Food4Philly has been a defining nonprofit in the Greater Philadelphia area, combating food insecurity. Previously helmed by Class of ’25 alumnus Milan Varma and now being led by Sixth Formers Jack Ford and Ranvir Gill, the organization has been making large impacts this summer on the Philadelphia community through its Hunting Park distribution event.
The organization has consistently donated thousands of pounds of food to the Philadelphia community each Saturday at its event, which spans two hours from 12:00 to 2:00 PM.
Now, ever so deep into the Fall season, it’s a time to provide insight into how the organization has done. Gill, who recently stepped up to become one of two co-presidents, reflects on the work they have accomplished so far..
“The organization has been growing at a very healthy rate right now,” Gill said. “In terms of general numbers, we’ve donated up to 140,000 pounds, [gained] over 270 members, [and added] twenty national chapters,” he said.
Another newly developed aspect is the partnerships the nonprofit has founded recently with other local organizations. For example, Food4Philly and the Haverford Service Board, along with sister schools AIS and Baldwin, participated in a sandwich-making event on the 27th of September.
“We have chapters in pretty much every school in the main line.”
Ranvir Gill ’26
In addition to partnering with the school’s service board, Food4Philly also joined forces with the local pastry chain Tous Les Jours, which is donating its excess food to the Hunting Park events.
While Food4Philly is finding success, they are still facing some roadblocks. The recent SNAP cuts, initiated by the megabill President Donald Trump signed in the summer, have increased the strain on low-income families to source healthy food and have reduced food assistance. To a degree, Gill believes that the organization has seen increased lines and demand for food at each event, leading the organization to now only run every two weeks.
Still, the partnerships are a huge benefit as the organization continues to search for more donation opportunities to help the Philadelphia community in more ways than one. Student service can also play a role in supporting the organization, such as through cash donations, but more importantly, through volunteering.
“We have chapters in pretty much every school in the main line,” he said. “So if you’re interested in helping out, feel free to reach out.”
Lastly, as an outlook to the future, Food4Philly hopes to adapt and grow with the changing state of the nation around policies and events that affect it—not going against it, but for the very initiatives that the nonprofit organization was created for.
Clearly, Food4Philly is still a core part of the overall service community in the local area, though it also strives for national and global influence. The organization believes in the association of the community to unite to fight food insecurity, one of the world’s leading issues.
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