Senior Food Box & SNAP Hotline

Senior Food Box Program

The Senior Food Box Program works to improve the health of low-income seniors by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods. In Pennsylvania, eligible participants include low-income individuals who are at least 60 years old and whose household income is at or below 130 percent of the U.S. poverty level.

Senior Interested in Participating?
Seniors should fill out the self-certification form and submit it to PDA via email at RA-fooddist@pa.gov. using the subject line "SENIOR FOOD BOX APPLICATION." PDA will then route the application to the appropriate food bank providing service in the applicant's county of residence.

Applicants can also call 800-468-2433 to be directed to the regional food bank distributing the Senior Food Box in their county of residence. Refer to the Income Eligibility Guidelines.

---

SNAP Hotline

Our SNAP Hotline continues to operate Monday – Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at 215-430-0556.

• Click the link for the City of Philadelphia’s list of COVID-19 food distribution site locations across Philadelphia for student, senior and outdoor food pick up sites.
  

• Click the link for listings (phone numbers and addresses) of all Philadelphia County Assistance offices. While offices remain closed to the public at this time, you can drop off paperwork in "drop boxes" outside. Note, however, when calling it is often quicker to contact the Customer Service Center at 215-560-7226 (Philadelphia) or 877-395-8930 (statewide).

Saturday Food Distribution ends this Saturday

South Kensington Community Partners and the Arab American CDC offer our respect, gratitude, and appreciation to the Share Food Program and everyone who contributed over the last year to assisting our community through a difficult and unpredictable time.

THANK YOU
Share Food Program
Penn Treaty Special Services District
Al Aqsa Islamic Society
Al Amana Supermarket
Lost Bread Company
Cousins Supermarket
Cesar Andreú Iglesias Community Garden
La Esquina Community Garden
Northern Liberties Neighbors Association
Philly Counts
Punch Buggy

And of course to ALL of our neighbors including everyone who was able to receive and share food and to all those who volunteered to help with distribution and deliveries

Fund Thanksgiving Turkeys for Neighbors in Need.

Over the past few months, the Arab-American Development Corps (AACDC) and the South Kensington Community Partners, (SKCP) have been distributing free food parcels to families in need at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Philadelphia. Every Saturday we serve healthy food for 250 families in our community and due to the hardships caused by COVID-19, we will be continuing to provide food assistance to these families over the months ahead.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to ensure every family has a special Thanksgiving meal. We want to provide a Thanksgiving turkey to every family but our funding is tight and we do not have the additional resources to provide the turkeys.

We need YOUR help! How you can help, clickhere.

FREE FOOD PICKUP @ Al Aqsa parking lot

If you would like to volunteer to help distribute or deliver food
on an upcoming Saturday, please email info@southkensingtoncommunity.org

COVID-19 INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• Get COVID-19 updates sent to your phone:
  -Text COVIDPHL to 888-777

• City Provides Update on COVID-19, click here.

• PA Provides Updates on Covid-19, click here.

• Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced activation of the Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline.
  The Helpline can be reached by calling 1-800-722-7112

COVID-19 UPDATES

311 Extended Hours

• Philly311’s contact center remains open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m Monday through Friday and will also be open extended hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m the following two weekends on April 18 and 19 and April 25 and 26.

• Residents can place a service request by calling 3-1-1 or dialing (215) 686-8686 or through submitting service requests online. Language translation services are available.

Flushing Wipes Could Cost You, Damage Infrastructure [PWD] More details here.

• Due to a flood of sanitary wipes at the city’s three Water Pollution Control Plants and 19 pumping stations, we are calling on residents to stop flushing anything other than toilet paper along with bathroom waste.

WEAR A MASK!

• Who should be tested, where you can get a test, click here [phila.gov] [pdf]
  Nearby test site: American Family Care (AFC) Urgent Care, 180 W. Girard Ave. (below Acme at 2nd & Girard)

• Going to a Pennsylvania business that remains open during the pandemic? Health Secretary Signs Order Providing Worker Safety Measures to Combat COVID-19

• CDC - Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19. The CDC provides three ways to make masks, including a sewn mask, a no-sew design from a T-shirt, and a design with a bandana here. Use the Inquirer's simple template to make a face mask at home.

NEARBY FOOD DISTRIBUITON for SENIORS, STUDENTS & FAMILIES

The city added two new sites to the locations providing meals for children on Mondays and Thursdays. More here.

• In the neighborhood: West Kensington Ministry, Kensington CAPA and John F. Street Center.

Free meals for seniors during COVID-19. Details here.

• In the neighborhood: CHCS Norris Square Center, Lutheran Settlement House, Northern Living Center.

FAMILY HEALTH & LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Resources for Babies.

• The Department of Public Health, along with the Office of Children and Families, announced nine community sites where caregivers of infants can find free baby supplies—including diapers. A list of the sites available here.

• Philadelphia Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program provides eligible caregivers with an EBT card they can use to purchase food, diapers and formula. To enroll in Philadelphia WIC residents can apply online, email phillywic@northwic.org, or call 215-978-6100.

• Breastfeeding support is available virtually through Pacify–a free, mobile app that gives on-demand access to professional lactation (breastfeeding) experts. Moms should use the enrollment code ‘Philly.’

PCCY’s HealthWatch Helpline Is Available To Help. Does your child need insurance now! Call 215-563-5848x17

• PCCY Helps Families Get Health Insurance in Every Language.
  How To Get Health Insurance For Your Child and You. More details here.

Philadelphia Legal Assistance [PLA resources]

• Philadelphia Legal Assistance Has Launched a Free UC Application Service Hotline! The number is 215-999-6910.

Community Legal Services [CLS]: Resources for COVID-19.

• You can get help over the phone for all cases we handle by calling 215-981-3700

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Information and resources for workers impacted by COVID-19,
click here [phila.gov].

Get your benefits: How to navigate PA’s overloaded unemployment system. [BillyPenn]

• It could be a month before gig workers receive any funds.
  More details here,

How to Select Your "Reason for Separation" in Unemployment Compensation Applications During the Coronavirus Crisis. [PLA]

• Unemployment Compensation and COVID-19. Details here.