Event Details
ROXBOROUGH – Ever wonder what became of Penn Beer Distributor at 401 Domino Lane? For the last six years, it’s been home to Small Things Inc., a nonprofit food distributor that has given away 25 million pounds of food to some of Philadelphia’s hungriest neighborhoods in that time. The food that passed through its warehouse doors in 2025 fed more than 400,000 Philadelphians.
On Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, Small Things is opening its warehouse doors to the public for its Harvest & Hunger Fall Festival. It takes places from 11 am to 1:30 pm. It’s designed to create fun, introduce Small Things’ work to the public, and educate people about eating healthy food and alleviating poverty in the region. To register for free tickets, click here. There is plenty of free parking, so start your day here and have a free lunch!
Philadelphia has one of the highest food insecurity rates among large U.S. cities. That means that 25% to 30% of the city’s children lack access to enough safe, affordable, and nutritious food to live an active and healthy life. Many don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
“We want to introduce the community to who we are and what kind of work we do. We’d like people to know how easily they can get involved – and we want to do it in a fun way,” said Executive Director Vito Baldini.
The Hunger & Harvest Festival is all free. It will feature carnival-type games, free food, and fun ways to learn how you can help alleviate food insecurity. Community groups and churches have been invited to help with the festival, including local sites that receive food from Small Things.
We serve 56+ nonprofit food pantries that pickup food each week from Small Things. And to feed people directly, Small Things has opened three free Markets that distribute fresh produce, meats, dry goods, dairy, and bread to the people in need. They are:
- The Small Things Market in Fairhill, located at 3510 A. Street, helps get fresh, healthy food to an area officially labeled a food desert. It is open three days a week and serves about 1,200 families a month.
- The Small Things Market at the House of Hope in Hunting Park, located at 1300 W. Hunting Park Ave., is open on Saturdays. It averages about 435 families a month.
- The Small Things Market at Emmanuel in Center City primarily serves the unhoused. Its pantry serves about 250 people a month. Small Things also hosts a weekly hot, sit-down meal for about 120 people experiencing homelessness on Market day.
“We wouldn’t be able to do all this without the community’s support,” said Baldini. “We’d like people to see how easy it is to get involved. Maybe they want to be one of the 350 volunteers we welcome every month. Or maybe it’s a financial donation. It all adds up!”
Small Things heart comes from Mother Teresa’s statement: “You can do no great things, only small things with great love.”