Did you know ……………  

In 2008, 49.1 million Americans lived in households that suffered from hunger or near hunger, up from 36.2 million in 2007. Of these, 16.7 million (nearly one in four) were children, up from 12.4 million in 2007.

Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District, including South Philadelphia and parts of North Philadelphia, is the second hungriest district in the nation. More than 36 percent of the households experienced hunger between 2008 and 2009 - nearly double the national average.

More than 27,000 children in Philadelphia suffered from hunger in the past year.  About 8,000 were under the age of three.

Nearly half of the food pantries in Philadelphia had to turn away people last year because they ran out of food.

Why is this happening? What is being done about it? What can we do at Society Hill Synagogue?

Please join us on April 9-11 as we hear from some of the most knowledgeable and active Philadelphians in hunger relief, participate in a hunger awareness meal, share our perceptions and ideas, consider future SHS initiatives against hunger, and visit a food distribution center.

On Friday evening, April 9, Dr. Mariana Chilton of Drexel University’s School of Public Health will be our guest speaker. Recently featured in articles on hunger in The Philadelphia Inquirer and the City Paper, Dr. Chilton is the Principal Investigator for The Philadelphia GROW Project and Children’s HealthWatch and the founding leader of Witnesses to Hunger, an education and advocacy program for women.

At our family service the following morning, we will become acquainted with a few of the many Jewish texts on hunger. We will then gather for a unique and informative lunch experience, followed by a lively discussion led by an expert on food and hunger. We will close with a panel of Philadelphia leaders in hunger relief, who will help us explore possible SHS actions to fight hunger. On Sunday, April 11, we will take a trip to a food distribution center to assist in the packing process.

The cost of the lunch, in advance, is $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children, a portion of which will be contributed to a hunger relief program.  Please contact the SHS office at (215)922-6590 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to make a reservation and arrange for payment.

This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Kehillah of Center City, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.