Philadelphia Police Collect Food to Support Philabundance

A city-wide holiday food drive organized by the Philadelphia Police Department in partnership with Philabundance helped support families in need ahead of Giving Tuesday.

Police Commissioner Mike Cram told NBC10 Philadelphia that officers and professional staff from across the city's police department participated in the food drive.

During the last two weeks of November, every police precinct in the city collected food donations from officers, employees, and community members. On Monday, Dec. 1, all the donations were loaded and sent to the nonprofit Philabundance. Police officials told CBS News Philadelphia that this year is the first time the food drive has been a department-wide program.

Officers loaded police vehicles with boxes of food they had collected for donation to Philabundance. During the two-week collection period, officers and department staff donated nearly 4,453 pounds of food, expected to provide 3,700 meals to families in need.

Philabundance partners will distribute the nonperishable and canned food items to nonprofits and churches in the city.

"There's far too many people who are food insecure. One in three kids in our city is food insecure, and that's why our work is that much more important," Philabundance CEO Loree Jones Brown told NBC10 Philadelphia.

The increased need for food comes at a tough time for food banks across the nation, including those in Philadelphia. Many, including Philabundance, saw an increase in requests for assistance during the federal government shutdown when federal workers weren't being paid, and SNAP benefits were halted.

Philabundance said that volunteers are invited to help sort food donations. Meanwhile, Philadelphia Police Department officials said Philabundance drop boxes will remain available at every precinct across the city through the holiday season. Anyone from the community can come in and donate there.