SMALL THINGS
WHO WE ARE
SmallThingsisahungerrelieforganizationthat distributesfoodtolocalcommunitypantriesand directlyhelpspeoplefacingfoodinsecurityand povertyinthePhiladelphiaregion
In2020,SmallThingsformedaformal partnershipwithPhilabundance,movingintoa 75,000-square-footwarehouseinRoxborough Sincethattime,SmallThingshasdistributed morethan23millionpoundsoffoodand openedthreedirectservicemarkets.
ThenameSmallThingswasinspiredbythe quotefromMotherTeresa,“Wecandonogreat things,onlysmallthingswithgreatlove”
OUR VALUES
COLLABORATION| Webelievethatpartnershipis criticaltoalleviatingpoverty,whichiswhywe strivetobuildreal,lastingrelationshipsby collaboratingwithourpartnerorganizationsto meettheneedsoftheircommunities
DIGNITY| Webelievethateveryindividualwe supportdeservestobetreatedwithrespect, empathy,andlove,regardlessoftheirsituation
INTEGRITY| Webelieveinhavingintegrityinallof ouractionsandinallofourpartnerships
IMPACT| Ineverythingwedo,wewanttoensure thatoureffortshaveapositiveimpactinour community
COMPASSION| Webelieveinmovingtoward people,notaway,regardlessofcircumstances. Compassionisattheforefrontofdecisionmaking.
OUR MISSION
SmallThingsworkswithlocalpartnersandcommunityleaderstoalleviatepovertyby improvingfoodsecurityandcollaboratingtoaddressothercommunityneeds.
OUR TOTAL IMPACT | 2020 - 2024
providedtoneighbors throughourvarious programs
who helptomakeitall happen!
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In2024,SmallThingscontinueditsmissiontoalleviate povertythroughourunHungryPlan,focusingonmeals, directservicemarkets,andmore-than-foodprograms Our initiativesmadeasignificantimpactintheregion,providing 367millionpoundsoffoodto50partnerfoodpantries, servinganaverageof10,219peopleweekly Wealsoopened ourthirddirectservicemarketinHuntingParkandexpanded ourjobtrainingprograms,training22individualsinforklift safetyandwelcoming12internstogainon-the-jobskills
Ourneighborhoodmarketsprovideaccesstofreshfoodand serveasvitalcommunityhubs Weemploylocalresidentsto helpmanagetheFairhillandHuntingParkmarkets,whileour CenterCitymarketatResurrectionChurchhasbeen particularlybeneficialforshoppersexperiencing homelessness.Communitymembersactivelysupportour missionbyvolunteering,helpingwithlogistics,creatinga welcomingenvironment,andfosteringasenseofownership inthemarkets.
TheFairhillmarketexemplifiescommunitydevelopment,asstaffworkcloselywithneighborstoconnectthem tosocialservices,offeringsupportforhealthcare,rent,utilities,andcookinglessons Thisgrassrootsapproach isessentialforeffectivelyalleviatingpoverty,emphasizingtheimportanceofcommunityinvolvement
Ourpartnershipswithchurchesandnon-profitsallowustoprovidefreshstartsforindividuals Everythingwe do meals,markets,andmore aimstoshowpeopletheirworth Ourapproachisaboutshowingpeople:our partners,ourguests,ourstaff,ourboard,ourvolunteers,ourdonors,andourchurchesthatweneedyou The realityistheworkofpovertyalleviationishard,andwecan’tdoitalonenorwouldwewantto Webelievethat belongingtosomethinggreaterhelpsindividualsrecognizetheirvalue
Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportindoingsmallthingswithgreatlove
Sincerely,
Rev VitoBaldini ExecutiveDrector,SmallThings,Inc
OUR MARKETS
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
FAIRHILLMARKET
9,326families servedatthe pantry
FairhillMarketSuccessStories:
469,322lbsof fooddistributed throughthe pantry
Inadditiontoservingfamilies,theSmallThingsMarketprovided freebreakfastsandlunchestokidsinFairhillthroughthe Archdiocese'sNutritionalDevelopmentServicessummermeals program.Wewerealsoabletogetafreehospitalbedandother equipmentforoneofourolderguestswithmedicalneeds.
HOUSEOFHOPEMARKET
815families servedatthe pantry
34,095lbsof fooddistributed throughthe pantry
HouseofHopeMarketSuccessStories: Wemade1,600lunchesfortheTimoteosportssummercampin Julyandweareworkingondoingfreepreparedmealshereas well,andpartneringwithOrdinarieHeroestoteachthekidsin theirprogramaboutcookingandnutrition.
EMMANUEL
EmmanuelMarketSuccessStories: Atotalof3,350guestsshoppedatthepantry,takingwiththem 30,662poundsoffood. Weserved 5,290guestsa hotmeal 70% Weserved70% moreindividualsin 2024thanin2023
DISTRIBUTIONTOPANTRYPARTNERS
Wedistributedover3.67million poundsoffoodtoour50+pantry partners-over70,000poundsof foodeveryweek!
439,429people receivedfood thatpantries pickedupfrom ourwarehouse. Managed1,383 partner pickupsand 267deliveries.
KIDSSNACKBAG&NUTRITION
Throughourvariousprogramswehave providedover33,120healthykidssnack bags.
KidsSnackBagsSuccessStories: WewillbeofferingSNAP-EdNutritionEducationtrainingtoourpartner pantriesandonsiteatourFairhilllocationnextyear.
FORKLIFTCERTIFICATION
Thisyear,wehad22graduatesfromour forkliftcertificationprogram-a60% increasefrom2023.
Thisyearweworkedwith12internsina rangeofrolesfromsocialservices assistancetowarehouseassistance.
Certification&InternshipPartners:
InternsweworkedwithcamefromMessiahUniversitySchoolof SocialWork,LaSalleSchoolofSocialWork,NewLeashonLife, JeffersonSchoolofNutrition,DrexelCommunityCollaborators,and PhillyYouthBasketball
MEET OUR MARKET VISITORS!
CHARLOTTE
“Iamtheblockcaptainandcommunitymemberforthe(BroadStreet neighborhood).Ihavebeencominghereasapatrontopartakeofsome SmallThingsfoodthattheyoffertothecommunity.
“Afterawhile,Isaid,‘Letmecomeandvolunteer.’Ifeltasthoughcoming tovolunteerwouldhelpSmallThings,aswellasthecommunity.
“Thefoodthattheyprovidetothecommunityisveryhelpful,resourceful I thinkitisbeneficialtothecommunity,andIhopethattheywillremain andstaywithusforaslongasittakes Butagain,IthankSmallThingsfor allthattheydoandwillcontinuetodofortheneighbors”
EVELYN
“Whenyouliveonalimitedincome,sometimesitbecomesveryhardto getfood Beingthatit'shardtogetfood,theseplacesthatgiveyousome foodisverymuchappreciated Ibelieveit'sablessingfromGod”
Shehasencouragedfriendstovisitthepantry
“Iletthemknowthattheywillbeblessedhere Andlittleblessings,no matterhowsmallorbigtheyare,littleblessingsarecomingfromheaven, comingfromGod Andit'sverymuchappreciated”
ANGELICA
“IhavelivedhereinPhillyforover35years.Ijustwanttobeverythankful totheorganizationbecauseIcomehereeveryThursday,andIcollect fruits,vegetables,flowers,andthingsthatIreallyneed.Theeconomyis bad,sothisisablessingformyfamilyandme.AndIthankyouverymuch.
“Iwouldinviteafriendtocomehere,beearly,soyoudon'thavetobeat theendoftheline,butyouwilldefinitelybegettingsomegoodies,fruits, vegetables,milk,flowers,thingsthatareveryvaluabletoyourfamily.Oh, myGod,it'sabighelp.”
INTERNS HELP SMALL THINGS & HELP THE COMMUNITY
INTERNSPOTLIGHT:JOSE
JosecametoworkattheSmallThingsMarketinFairhillasaninterninJuneandwashiredasapart-time employeeinAugust.Today,heisatrustedmemberoftheteam.Heandhisfourcoworkersareresponsible forstockingandrunningthelocalmarketinFairhillthatfeedsabout777familieseverymonth.
“I'm very happy with my job I like to help people ”
Jose,32,isabighelparoundthemarket Beforeitopens,hecleansandrestockstheshelves,fridgesand freezers Eachweek,themarketgetsaround9,000poundsoffoodfromtheSmallThingswarehousein Roxboroughthatneedstobedisplayedsopeopleknowwhat’savailable There’sproduce,frozenmeat,dairy, bread,anddrygoods
OncethemarketopensonWednesday,Friday,andSaturday,Joseandothersaccompanyeachshopperso theyknowwhattheycantake Inadditiontofood,thereareoccasionallyotheritemslikenewbooksand clothingtogothrough.
“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. ”
-LaurenFaux|ProgramManager,SmallThings
Jose,aresidentofKensington,isoneofthoseservingclosetohome Lookingahead,Josewouldliketodo evenmorefortheresidents,includingprovidingdeliveryservicestothosewhoaresickorotherwiseunable togettothegrocerystore Ideaslikehiscontinuetoinspireandchallengeustoimproveourprograms
THE UNHUNGRY PROJECT
SmallThings’focushasalwaysbeenalleviatingpoverty,startingwithfreefoodforhungrypeople Wecall thisourMEALSprogram Wedothistoconnectwithpeople–tofeedhungrypeopleandtomobilizepeople tosupporttheeffort Weknowthatfoodbuildstrustinthecommunity,soforthelastfouryears,we’vebeen doingjustthat:Buildingtrustbyprovidingmorethan23millionpoundsoffoodtothehungriestzipcodesin Philadelphia
Now,we’regettingtothepointwherewewanttooffermorethanfood In2024,wecreatedtheunHungry Projecttohelpdirectournextsteps Thisthree-yearplanisdesignedto: Stabilizeouroperations
GrowfromthreetosixMarketsoverthenextthreeyears
Place25,000peopleonapathwayoutofpoverty,startingwithaccesstofood
Tostabilizeouroperations,werealizedweneededcommittedfunds Asaresult,theunHungryProjectasks supporterstomakeathree-yearcommitment Thisfundingwillsupportkeystaff,addstaff,anddevelop systemsandprocessestooperatemultiplemarketsacrossthecity WecallthisourMARKETSprogram
Ourmarketswillfunctionasneighborhoodhubswherepeoplecanaccessfoodandsocialservices These socialservicesarethepathwaythatpeopleneedtomovetowardathrivinglife Thatisthecoreofour MORE-THAN-FOODprogram Eachpersonhastofindoutwhatmoretheyneedandwhatworksbestforthem Maybeit’sjobtraining Maybeit’shousing Maybeit’shealthcare Whatevertheyneedmustkeepthemona pathwayofdignity Weunderstandthatmanypeoplefindthemselvesintoughsituations,andwe understandhowdifficultlifecanbe Wewanttoeasetheirpath
SmallThingsstartspeopleonthispathway,beginningwithfoodandleadingthemtomoreservicesatour Markets Fromthere,wearecommittedtodoingmoreforpeopleaswebattlepovertyacrosstheregion Our workofdoingSmallThingswithgreatloveisfarfromover
The Small Things’ Pathway to an UnHungry Life
Movingtoastateofstrength, dignityandcontentment.
PATHWAY TO AN UNHUNGRY LIFE: FROM SEAN
TO SEEN
eprintingindustrycame, entyyears;hislifebegana urnedtowardsalcoholeven ndsturnedawayfrom dsupportheneeded It angrewupin,was enserved,inhischurch chool;thoserootsfaltered came
ndbecamepartofCenter munity Heendured ndthreats Eventually,he hiasheltersystemand boutmealsandassistance nistryofachurchjustoff CenterCityPhiladelphia tedhimtowhatheneeded ofthevolunteerteamand anuelpartnersconnected Again,smallthingsinthe phisbelongings,careforhis personalhygiene,andtorediscoverhisspiritualroots.Offthestreet,Seanbegantowalkwiththe communityatthatchurch.Hegothislifeback,movedintoaplaceofhisown,achievedsobriety andfoundwork.Seannowplaysavitalroleinhelpingothersgetontheirpathsthroughhiswork withSmallThingsandasaDeaconforthechurchwhereitallbegan.
WhenSeanwasyoung,hismotherpronouncedhisname“seen,”not“shawn.”Headoptedthe conventionalversionwhenheenteredthesheltersystem.Today,though,SeanisnowSEEN,a profoundstatementofsomeonewhosepastlifeincludestimeamongtheunseenpeoplingour streets.
PANTRY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: MERCY NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRIES
For35years,MercyNeighborhoodMinistrieshas beensupportingresidentsnearitsTiogaNicetownlocation,addressingtheneedsof residents,over42%ofwhomlivebelowthe povertyline FoundedbytheSistersofMercy, theorganization’smissionistoempower familiesthroughneighborlyassistanceand transformativesupport
With209studentsbenefitingfromitsHeadStart program,pre-Kclasses,andafter-schoolcare, MercyNeighborhoodisalsoknownforhelping adultsthroughGEDpreparation,basicskills courses,jobreadiness,andworkforce development Seniorsparticipateinanadult dayprogramthatengagesthemsocially, 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.”
In2024,SmallThingsprovidedMercyNeighborhoodwithfoodforsome6,000hungryneighbors.
HalimaTavares,whooverseestheMercyMealsprogram,knowsthatthebestfoodplanmustbebasedon individualneeds.Yeartoyear,“someneedschange.Somedon’t.Someneedmorehelpthanothers.Weare heretohelptheindividual,onebyone.Ithinkournumberswillgoup(inthecomingyear)andthatwe’ll growandbeabletohelpmorepeople.”
Tohelpmeetthatneed,StevesaysMercyNeighborhoodplanstoreallocatespaceandopenanon-site pantrythatwillbetterservetheneighborhood “SeeingtheMarkets(SmallThings)started,wehaveasimilar vision [tofunction]asanetworkofsocialservices”
OUR PANTRY PARTNERS
SmallThingsservesindividualsandworkswithpartnersinPhiladelphia, Delaware,Montgomery,andCamdencounties Ourgoalistocontinually movetowardbeingapresenceinareasthatexperiencefoodinsecurity whereourpresencecansupportthecommunity.
8thSt.Community
Church/HopePrisonMinistries
AHARI
ByGraceAlone
CDAMinistry
Concilio
Crossroads
DelcoFoodProject
EpiphanyGloucester
Esperanza
FeedPhillyNow
FirmHopeBaptistChurch
GoodSamaritan
Grace&Peace
GrandsSteppingUp
GreenhouseProject
HeartofWorshipRestoration Center
HouseofPrayer
ICPICNewAfricaCenter
Iglesia
KIPPDuBoisCollegiate Academy
LivingWordMinistries
MercyNeighborhoodMinistries
MetroChurch
Mt VernonBaptistChurch
NeighborsHelpingNeighbors
NewCovenantChurch
NewCovenantChurch
Cheltenham
NKCDC
NorthLightCommunityCenter
OCCCDA
OneHopeCommunityChurch
OrdinaireHeroes
Our MotherofMercyHouse
O N T H E M A P
PhiladelphiaPrevention Partnership
PhillyAutoandParole
ProdigyPrep
RoxboroughPresbyterian Church
SalvationArmyPhila/CentralPA
SnyderAvenueCongregational Church
SouthPhillyCommunityFridge St.Mark'sLutheranChurch
St.PaulAME
SundayLoveProject
TheEverywhereProject
TrueVineWorshipCenter
VictoryAudubon
VictoryOutreach
WestKensingtonMinistry
ZionChurch
374
OUR VOLUNTEERS
374 completed serving opportunities & over 17,000 hours served.
3.3K
3,390 volunteers dedicated their time to helping Small Things succeed
SMAL
42 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.
Sarah (Snider) Migali Pastor Mark Novales
Rev. Vito Baldini
Joan Boyce
Rev. Adan Mainera Ricardo Maldonado
Rev. Bonnie Camarda
Andrew Kim Ben Ruegsegger
SMALL THINGS TEAM
Reverend Vito Baldini
Barb Delp
John Casey
Tony Tucker
Lauren Faux
Corey Jay "CJ" Cutner
Jack Kennedy
Robert Ramos Marcos Castillo
Matthew Cyphert
Carlos Betancourt Jr Nilda Pimentel Jose Marquez
Elise Brady
Chris McDougall Angel Natal
Sean Wiggins
Rebecca Rodriquez
Amy Karl
Anne Maria van den Berg
BUDGET & FINANCIALS
SmallThingsturnsevery$1incashinto$6 ofhealthyfoodforourhungryneighbors. Withtheexceptionofayearofpandemic relief,thatratioremainsconsistent,even asoperatingexpensesincrease.
AtSmallThings,contributionsnotonly addup,theymultiplytoo!
IncomebySource Expenses
*SmallThingsemptiesthewarehouseofdonatedfoodattheendofeach yeartoensureadequatesupplyonPantryshelvesduringtheholidaysandto simplify the annual inventory process All of the reported expense over income” can be traced to this practice On a cash basis, Small Things consistentlyoperateswithamulti-monthreserve
Thesestatementsaresubjecttominoradjustmentsduringourannualaudit 990sfrompreviousyearsareeasilyaccessedintheAboutSectionofthe SmallThingswebsite
NETWORK PARTNERS
AetnaBetterHealthKids
AffinityGroup
AgnesIrwinSchool
AlbertsonCompany Foundation
AllianceBernstein
Amazon
AmericaOnlineGiving Foundation
Amerihealth
BankofAmerica
BethesdaProject
BridgeCommunityChurch
CaronTreatmentCenter
ChristianLifeChurch
CitizensBank
CityLineChurch
CityofPhila Controller'sOffice
CitylightChurch
ClemensFoodGroup
ConnellyFoundation
Convergint
ConvoyofHope
CovenantPresbyterianChurch
CyberGrants
ElevationChurch
EpicChurch
ErtzFamilyFoundation
FirstBaptistChurchofPhila.
FirstPresbyterianChurchof Ambler
FirstUnitedChurchofChrist
FoundationforHealthEquity
FriendsSelectSchool
GiantFoodStores
GreeneTweed HeartofWorshipRestoration Center
HuronConsultingGroup
IglesiaPentecostalChurch
JeffersonEinstein
KendraScottLLC
KensingtonCommunity ResiliencyFund
KingswayServiceInc.
KuttinWealthManagement
LeoandPeggyPierce Foundation
LeveringtonChurch
LibertiChurchCollingswood
LibertiChurchFairmount
LibertiChurchMainline
LibertiChurchNortheast
LibertiCommunionof Churches
LittleBrownBirdFoods
MeaningfulMissions
MedTrack/Caresense
MercyNeighborhoodMinistries
MetaTechCo.
MetroEastFalls
Mid-AtlanticFoodTrade Organization
MigaliIndustries
NewCovenantChurchofPhila.
OakStreetHealth
PatriciaKindFamilyFoundation
PaulL NewmanFoundation
PECO
PepsiCo
Philabundance
PhiladelphiaActivitiesFund
PhiladelphiaClassicalSchool
PhilliesCharitiesInc.
PhillyFoodworks
Portescap
RenewalPresbyterianChurch
ResurrectionChurch
Philadelphia
RotaryFoundationofPhila.
SchmidtBaking
ShareFoodProgram
SharingExcess
SpringGardenSoupSociety
SproutsFarmersMarket Target
ThePohligCompanies
TheQuakerSchool
Third,ScotsandMariners
PresbyterianChurch
TraderJoe's
UniversityofPennsylvania
UtzQualityFoods
VictoryChurch
VioletsInBloom
VolunteeringUntappedPHL
Vynamic
WashingtonUniversityinSt. LouisAlumni
WAWAFoundation
WilliamPennCharterSchool
WomenofKellogg
WSFSCaresFoundation
YourCause
ZetaPhiBeta
Volunteerssorting foodatthe warehouse& helpingprepare mealsforTimoteo
Sportsparticipants atHouseofHope!
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.
ReadorShareFull ReportOnline byScanningtheQR Code!
SmallThingsContactInformation Email:admin@smallthingsphillyorg Phone:(267)702-0134
SmallThingsWarehouse 401DominoLane Philadelphia,PA19128 www.smallthingsphilly.org
SmallThings MailingAddress POBox41156 Philadelphia,PA19127
SmallThingsEmmanuel 123S 17thStreet Philadelphia,PA19103
SmallThingsMarket(Fairhill) 3510AStreet Philadelphia,PA19134
wwwinstagramcom/small things philly
SmallThingsMarket(HuntingPark) HouseofHope 1300WHuntingParkAve Philadelphia,PA19140 www.facebook.com/smallthingsphilly
wwwsmallthingsphillyorg
