Small Things 2024 Annual Report

2024 ANNUAL REPORT www.smallthingsphilly.org

SMALL THINGS WHO WE ARE

OUR VALUES

Small Things is a hunger relief organization that

COLLABORATION | We believe that partnership is

distributes food to local community pantries and

critical to alleviating poverty, which is why we

directly helps people facing food insecurity and

strive to build real, lasting relationships by

poverty in the Philadelphia region.

collaborating with our partner organizations to meet the needs of their communities.

In 2020, Small Things formed a formal partnership with Philabundance, moving into a

DIGNITY | We believe that every individual we

75,000-square-foot warehouse in Roxborough.

support deserves to be treated with respect,

Since that time, Small Things has distributed

empathy, and love, regardless of their situation.

more than 23 million pounds of food and opened three direct service markets.

INTEGRITY | We believe in having integrity in all of our actions and in all of our partnerships.

The name Small Things was inspired by the quote from Mother Teresa, “We can do no great

IMPACT | In everything we do, we want to ensure

things, only small things with great love.”

that our efforts have a positive impact in our community.

COMPASSION | We believe in moving toward people, not away, regardless of circumstances.

Compassion is at the forefront of decisionmaking.

OUR MISSION Small Things works with local partners and community leaders to alleviate poverty by improving food security and collaborating to address other community needs.

OUR TOTAL IMPACT | 2020 - 2024

23.8 million pounds of

9.2 million meals

18,600 volunteers who

food distributed to

provided to neighbors

help to make it all

families in need.

through our various

happen!

programs.

2

| 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR In 2024, Small Things continued its mission to alleviate poverty through our unHungry Plan, focusing on meals, direct service markets, and more-than-food programs. Our initiatives made a significant impact in the region, providing 3.67 million pounds of food to 50 partner food pantries, serving an average of 10,219 people weekly. We also opened our third direct service market in Hunting Park and expanded our job training programs, training 22 individuals in forklift safety and welcoming 12 interns to gain on-the-job skills.

Our neighborhood markets provide access to fresh food and serve as vital community hubs. We employ local residents to help manage the Fairhill and Hunting Park markets, while our Center City market at Resurrection Church has been particularly beneficial for shoppers experiencing homelessness. Community members actively support our mission by volunteering, helping with logistics, creating a welcoming environment, and fostering a sense of ownership in the markets.

The Fairhill market exemplifies community development, as staff work closely with neighbors to connect them to social services, offering support for healthcare, rent, utilities, and cooking lessons. This grassroots approach is essential for effectively alleviating poverty, emphasizing the importance of community involvement.

Our partnerships with churches and non-profits allow us to provide fresh starts for individuals. Everything we do—meals, markets, and more—aims to show people their worth. Our approach is about showing people: our partners, our guests, our staff, our board, our volunteers, our donors, and our churches that we need you. The reality is the work of poverty alleviation is hard, and we can’t do it alone nor would we want to. We believe that belonging to something greater helps individuals recognize their value.

Thank you for your continued support in doing small things with great love.

Sincerely,

Rev. Vito Baldini Executive Drector, Small Things, Inc. 2024 ANNUAL REPORT | 3

2024 BY THE NUMBERS FAIRHILL MARKET

469,322 lbs of

9,326 families

food distributed

served at the

OUR MARKETS

through the

pantry

pantry

Fairhill Market Success Stories: In addition to serving families, the Small Things Market provided free breakfasts and lunches to kids in Fairhill through the Archdiocese's Nutritional Development Services summer meals program. We were also able to get a free hospital bed and other equipment for one of our older guests with medical needs.

HOUSE OF HOPE MARKET 815 families

34,095 lbs of food distributed

served at the

through the

pantry

pantry

House of Hope Market Success Stories: We made 1,600 lunches for the Timoteo sports summer camp in July and we are working on doing free prepared meals here as well, and partnering with Ordinarie Heroes to teach the kids in their program about cooking and nutrition.

EMMANUEL We served 5,290 guests a hot meal

70%

We served 70% more individuals in 2024 than in 2023

Emmanuel Market Success Stories: A total of 3,350 guests shopped at the pantry, taking with them 30,662 pounds of food.

4 | 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

DISTRIBUTION TO PANTRY PARTNERS We distributed over 3.67 million pounds of food to our 50+ pantry

MEAL DISTRIBUTION

partners- over 70,000 pounds of food every week!

439,429 people

Managed 1,383

received food

partner

that pantries

pickups and

picked up from

267 deliveries.

our warehouse.

KIDS SNACK BAG & NUTRITION Through our various programs we have provided over 33,120 healthy kids snack bags.

Kids Snack Bags Success Stories: We will be offering SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education training to our partner pantries and onsite at our Fairhill location next year.

FORKLIFT CERTIFICATION This year, we had 22 graduates from our forklift certification program- a 60% increase from 2023.

This year we worked with 12 interns in a

JOB TRAINING

range of roles from social services assistance to warehouse assistance.

Certification & Internship Partners: Interns we worked with came from Messiah University School of Social Work, LaSalle School of Social Work, New Leash on Life, Jefferson School of Nutrition, Drexel Community Collaborators, and Philly Youth Basketball.

2024 ANNUAL REPORT | 5

MEET OUR MARKET VISITORS! CHARLOTTE “I am the block captain and community member for the (Broad Street neighborhood). I have been coming here as a patron to partake of some Small Things food that they offer to the community.

“After a while, I said, ‘Let me come and volunteer.’ I felt as though coming to volunteer would help Small Things, as well as the community.

“The food that they provide to the community is very helpful, resourceful. I think it is beneficial to the community, and I hope that they will remain and stay with us for as long as it takes. But again, I thank Small Things for all that they do and will continue to do for the neighbors.”

EVELYN “When you live on a limited income, sometimes it becomes very hard to get food. Being that it's hard to get food, these places that give you some food is very much appreciated. I believe it's a blessing from God.” She has encouraged friends to visit the pantry.

“I let them know that they will be blessed here. And little blessings, no matter how small or big they are, little blessings are coming from heaven, coming from God. And it's very much appreciated.”

ANGELICA “I have lived here in Philly for over 35 years. I just want to be very thankful to the organization because I come here every Thursday, and I collect fruits, vegetables, flowers, and things that I really need. The economy is bad, so this is a blessing for my family and me. And I thank you very much.

“I would invite a friend to come here, be early, so you don't have to be at the end of the line, but you will definitely be getting some goodies, fruits, vegetables, milk, flowers, things that are very valuable to your family. Oh, my God, it's a big help.”

6 | 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

INTERNS HELP SMALL THINGS & HELP THE COMMUNITY INTERN SPOTLIGHT: JOSE Jose came to work at the Small Things Market in Fairhill as an intern in June and was hired as a part-time employee in August. Today, he is a trusted member of the team. He and his four coworkers are responsible for stocking and running the local market in Fairhill that feeds about 777 families every month.

“I'm very happy with my job...I like to help people.”

Jose, 32, is a big help around the market. Before it opens, he cleans and restocks the shelves, fridges and freezers. Each week, the market gets around 9,000 pounds of food from the Small Things warehouse in Roxborough that needs to be displayed so people know what’s available. There’s produce, frozen meat, dairy, bread, and dry goods.

Once the market opens on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, Jose and others accompany each shopper so they know what they can take. In addition to food, there are occasionally other items like new books and clothing to go through.

“Our interns learn hands-on strategies for fighting food insecurity, while giving back to their communities and helping our programs run smoothly. Many of our interns serve at Small Things Markets right in their own neighborhoods, bringing unique perspectives that improve the quality of our services and give us more insight into the communities that we serve.”

- Lauren Faux | Program Manager, Small Things Jose, a resident of Kensington, is one of those serving close to home. Looking ahead, Jose would like to do even more for the residents, including providing delivery services to those who are sick or otherwise unable to get to the grocery store. Ideas like his continue to inspire and challenge us to improve our programs.

2024 ANNUAL REPORT | 7

THE UNHUNGRY PROJECT Small Things’ focus has always been alleviating poverty, starting with free food for hungry people. We call this our MEALS program. We do this to connect with people – to feed hungry people and to mobilize people to support the effort. We know that food builds trust in the community, so for the last four years, we’ve been doing just that: Building trust by providing more than 23 million pounds of food to the hungriest zip codes in Philadelphia.

Now, we’re getting to the point where we want to offer more than food. In 2024, we created the unHungry Project to help direct our next steps. This three-year plan is designed to: Stabilize our operations Grow from three to six Markets over the next three years Place 25,000 people on a pathway out of poverty, starting with access to food.

To stabilize our operations, we realized we needed committed funds. As a result, the unHungry Project asks supporters to make a three-year commitment. This funding will support key staff, add staff, and develop systems and processes to operate multiple markets across the city. We call this our MARKETS program.

Our markets will function as neighborhood hubs where people can access food and social services. These social services are the pathway that people need to move toward a thriving life. That is the core of our MORE-THAN-FOOD program. Each person has to find out what more they need and what works best for them.

Maybe it’s job training. Maybe it’s housing. Maybe it’s healthcare. Whatever they need must keep them on a pathway of dignity. We understand that many people find themselves in tough situations, and we understand how difficult life can be. We want to ease their path.

Small Things starts people on this pathway, beginning with food and leading them to more services at our Markets. From there, we are committed to doing more for people as we battle poverty across the region. Our work of doing Small Things with great love is far from over.

The Small Things’ Pathway to an UnHungry Life Moving to a state of strength, dignity and contentment.

8 | 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

PATHWAY TO AN UNHUNGRY LIFE: FROM SEAN TO SEEN When the layoffs in the printing industry came, Sean lost his job of twenty years; his life began a downward spiral. He turned towards alcohol even as his family and friends turned away from providing the help and support he needed. It didn’t matter that Sean grew up in, was confirmed by, and even served, in his church.

He went to a church school; those roots faltered when the hard times came.

Sean lost his home and became part of Center City’s unhoused community. He endured assaults, robberies, and threats. Eventually, he entered the Philadelphia shelter system and while there, learned about meals and assistance from Emmanuel, a ministry of a church just off Rittenhouse Square in Center City Philadelphia.

During his first visit, Emmanuel’s leader sat down with Sean and connected him to what he needed most. Presence. And a path. Small things, really.

The path that began at Emmanuel led Sean to become an integral part of the volunteer team and the church community. In time, as his trust and confidence grew, Emmanuel partners connected Sean to services designed to get him back on his feet and off the street. Again, small things in the moment. Giant leaps over time.

Together, they secured temporary housing and a place for Sean to keep his belongings, care for his personal hygiene, and to rediscover his spiritual roots. Off the street, Sean began to walk with the community at that church. He got his life back, moved into a place of his own, achieved sobriety and found work. Sean now plays a vital role in helping others get on their paths through his work with Small Things and as a Deacon for the church where it all began.

When Sean was young, his mother pronounced his name “seen,” not “shawn.” He adopted the conventional version when he entered the shelter system. Today, though, Sean is now SEEN, a profound statement of someone whose past life includes time among the unseen peopling our streets.

2024 ANNUAL REPORT | 9

PANTRY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: MERCY NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRIES For 35 years, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries has been supporting residents near its TiogaNicetown location, addressing the needs of residents, over 42% of whom live below the poverty line. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the organization’s mission is to empower families through neighborly assistance and transformative support.

With 209 students benefiting from its Head Start program, pre-K classes, and after-school care, Mercy Neighborhood is also known for helping adults through GED preparation, basic skills courses, job readiness, and workforce development. Seniors participate in an adult day program that engages them socially, intellectually, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

“Food has always fit into our program,” says Steve Ziegler, director of advancement. “We’ve always fed the children and seniors that come to our programs. And we’ve seen the need for no-cost groceries in our community.

The mission of Mercy is to respond to the needs of the underserved. We need to make sure they have access to food.”

In 2024, Small Things provided Mercy Neighborhood with food for some 6,000 hungry neighbors.

Halima Tavares, who oversees the Mercy Meals program, knows that the best food plan must be based on individual needs. Year to year, “some needs change. Some don’t. Some need more help than others. We are here to help the individual, one by one. I think our numbers will go up (in the coming year) and that we’ll grow and be able to help more people.”

To help meet that need, Steve says Mercy Neighborhood plans to reallocate space and open an on-site pantry that will better serve the neighborhood. “Seeing the Markets (Small Things) started, we have a similar vision ... [to function] as a network of social services.”

10 | 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

OUR PANTRY PARTNERS Small Things serves individuals and works with partners in Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, and Camden counties. Our goal is to continually move toward being a presence in areas that experience food insecurity where our presence can support the community.

8th St. Community

House of Prayer

Church/Hope Prison Ministries

ICPIC New Africa Center

AHARI

Iglesia

Philly Auto and Parole

By Grace Alone

KIPP DuBois Collegiate

Prodigy Prep

CDA Ministry

Academy

Philadelphia Prevention Partnership

Roxborough Presbyterian

Concilio

Living Word Ministries

Crossroads

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries

Salvation Army Phila/Central PA

Delco Food Project

Metro Church

Snyder Avenue Congregational

Epiphany Gloucester

Mt. Vernon Baptist Church

Esperanza

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

South Philly Community Fridge

Feed Philly Now

New Covenant Church

St. Mark's Lutheran Church

Firm Hope Baptist Church

New Covenant Church

St. Paul AME

Good Samaritan

Cheltenham

Church

Church

Sunday Love Project

Grace & Peace

NKCDC

The Everywhere Project

Grands Stepping Up

North Light Community Center

True Vine Worship Center

Greenhouse Project

OCCCDA

Victory Audubon

Heart of Worship Restoration

One Hope Community Church

Victory Outreach

Ordinaire Heroes

West Kensington Ministry

Our Mother of Mercy House

Zion Church

ON THE MAP

Center

2024 ANNUAL REPORT | 11

OUR VOLUNTEERS 374 completed serving opportunities & over 17,000 hours served.

374

42

3,390 volunteers dedicated their time to helping Small Things succeed

3.3K

42 volunteer groups including volunteers from PECO, Pepsi, WSFS Bank, and Friends Select.

$567K

$567,655 in total economic impact based on the National Value of Volunteer Time from the Independent Sector annual report.

SMALL THINGS BOARD

Rev. Vito Baldini

Rev. Adan Mainera

12 | 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

Joan Boyce

Ricardo Maldonado

Rev. Bonnie Camarda

Sarah (Snider) Migali

Andrew Kim

Pastor Mark Novales

Ben Ruegsegger

SMALL THINGS TEAM

Reverend Vito Baldini

Barb Delp

John Casey

Tony Tucker

Lauren Faux

Corey Jay "CJ" Cutner

Jack Kennedy

Matthew Cyphert

Robert Ramos

Marcos Castillo

Chris McDougall

Angel Natal

Sean Wiggins

Rebecca Rodriquez

Amy Karl

Carlos Betancourt Jr.

Nilda Pimentel

Jose Marquez

Elise Brady

Anne Maria van den Berg

2024 ANNUAL REPORT | 13

BUDGET & FINANCIALS

1:6

Small Things turns every $1 in cash into $6

2023 vs. 2024 Income vs. Expenses

of healthy food for our hungry neighbors.

With the exception of a year of pandemic relief, that ratio remains consistent, even as operating expenses increase.

At Small Things, contributions not only add up, they multiply too!

Income by Source Grant - 5.1% General Donations - 9.4% Events - 0.1% Churches - 1.5% Businesses - 0.4% Donated Food - 83.5%

Expenses

Program Services - 12.1% Administration - 2.2% Fundraising - 0.4% Donated Food - 85.3%

* Small Things empties the warehouse of donated food at the end of each year to ensure adequate supply on Pantry shelves during the holidays and to simplify the annual inventory process. All of the reported “expense over income” can be traced to this practice. On a cash basis, Small Things consistently operates with a multi-month reserve.

14 | 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

These statements are subject to minor adjustments during our annual audit.

990s from previous years are easily accessed in the About Section of the Small Things website.

NETWORK PARTNERS Aetna Better Health Kids Affinity Group Agnes Irwin School Albertson Company Foundation Alliance Bernstein Amazon America Online Giving Foundation

Greene Tweed Heart of Worship Restoration Center Huron Consulting Group Iglesia Pentecostal Church Jefferson Einstein Kendra Scott LLC Kensington Community Resiliency Fund

Philabundance Philadelphia Activities Fund Philadelphia Classical School Phillies Charities Inc. Philly Foodworks Portescap Renewal Presbyterian Church Resurrection Church Philadelphia

Amerihealth Bank of America

Kingsway Service Inc. Kuttin Wealth Management

Rotary Foundation of Phila.

Schmidt Baking

Bethesda Project Bridge Community Church Caron Treatment Center

Leo and Peggy Pierce Foundation Leverington Church

Share Food Program Sharing Excess Spring Garden Soup Society

Christian Life Church Citizens Bank

Liberti Church Collingswood Liberti Church Fairmount

Sprouts Farmers Market Target

City Line Church City of Phila. Controller's Office Citylight Church

Liberti Church Mainline Liberti Church Northeast Liberti Communion of

The Pohlig Companies The Quaker School Third, Scots and Mariners

Clemens Food Group Connelly Foundation

Churches Little Brown Bird Foods

Presbyterian Church Trader Joe's

Convergint Convoy of Hope

Meaningful Missions MedTrack / Caresense

University of Pennsylvania Utz Quality Foods

Covenant Presbyterian Church Cyber Grants

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries Meta Tech Co.

Victory Church Violets In Bloom

Elevation Church Epic Church Ertz Family Foundation

Metro East Falls Mid-Atlantic Food Trade Organization

Volunteering Untapped PHL Vynamic Washington University in St.

First Baptist Church of Phila.

First Presbyterian Church of

Migali Industries New Covenant Church of Phila.

Louis Alumni WAWA Foundation

Ambler First United Church of Christ Foundation for Health Equity Friends Select School Giant Food Stores

Oak Street Health Patricia Kind Family Foundation Paul L. Newman Foundation PECO PepsiCo

William Penn Charter School Women of Kellogg WSFS Cares Foundation Your Cause Zeta Phi Beta

Volunteers sorting food at the warehouse & helping prepare meals for Timoteo Sports participants at House of Hope!

2024 ANNUAL REPORT | 15

Ways to get involved: Volunteer: we are always looking for volunteers to help out in our warehouse, markets, and Emmanuel! Learn more or sign up online at www.smallthingsphilly.org/volunteer.

Donate: We can’t do the work we do without donations- any amount helps us get food to those in need and helps us pay our employees a fair and liveable wage. Donate online at www.smallthingsphilly.org/donate.

Read or Share Full Report Online

by Scanning the QR Code!

Small Things Contact Information Email: admin@smallthingsphilly.org Phone: (267) 702-0134

Small Things Emmanuel 123 S. 17th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

Small Things Warehouse 401 Domino Lane Philadelphia, PA 19128 www.smallthingsphilly.org

Small Things Market (Fairhill) 3510 A Street Philadelphia, PA 19134

Small Things Mailing Address PO Box 41156 Philadelphia, PA 19127

Small Things Market (Hunting Park) House of Hope 1300 W Hunting Park Ave Philadelphia, PA 19140

www.instagram.com/small_things_philly www.facebook.com/smallthingsphilly www.smallthingsphilly.org

16 | 2024 ANNUAL REPORT