Biden Volunteers At Philadelphia Food Bank For MLK Day Of Service

PHILADELPHIA — President Joe Biden is no stranger to Philadelphia, and on Martin Luther King Jr. Day he was in the city helping the region’s largest hunger relief nonprofit.

Biden packed meals for food insecure residents of the Philadelphia region at Philabundance Monday, paying tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and to the spirit of volunteerism and public service King represented.

Monday's event was the third time Biden came to Philabundance during MLK Day of Service to recognize hunger in America and how it affects the health and wellbeing of a growing number of individuals and families, especially children.

Biden volunteered at Philabundance in 2021 on MLK Day, two days before his inauguration. He and First Lady Jill Biden went back to Philabundnace in 2022.

According to Philabundance partner Feeding America, more than 13 million children in the U.S. — one in five children — faced hunger in 2022. That's a 44 percent increase from the prior year and the highest rate of child food insecurity in nearly a decade.

Biden was joined by Philabundance Chief Executive Officer Loree Jones Brown, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, AmeriCorps Chief Executive Officer Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps Board of Directors Catherine McLaughlin, Regional President, Jefferson Health and Philabundance Board of Directors Chairperson Dixie James, and AmeriCorps youth volunteers.

"I am incredibly honored that President Biden has chosen to volunteer with us on MLK Day for the third time," Philabundance CEO Loree Jones Brown said. "This momentous occasion not only pays homage to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but also signifies the importance of community engagement and service. President Biden's participation exemplifies his Administration’s commitment and dedication to addressing hunger and advocating for change."

"I was proud to participate in the King Day of Service event today at Philabundance with President Biden and so many others," Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said. "Food insecurity is a real issue in Philadelphia and across our region, and anything that we can do, working together, to highlight the importance of addressing it is a worthy endeavor. It was my privilege to join CEO Loree Jones, their team, and our President today."

Biden and volunteers highlighted the power of youth engaged in service, packing boxes of family meal kits that will be distributed to people experiencing hunger across the region. Each family meal kit consisted of fresh produce and additional items to create a complete family meal. The boxes also included snacks tailored for children, such as apples and granola bars.