MID-WAY THRU 2026 Bringing stability in uncertain times FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Members of Epic Church pause from packing food at Small Things’ Roxborough warehouse.
Launching into 2026
Looking ahead
As Small Things launched into 2026, we had a taste of what we started with: crisis management and neighborhood response. Just as we started operations in the middle of the pandemic, the end of 2025 had our neighbors experiencing great uncertainty due to rising food costs and cuts to SNAP benefits. Once again, we found ourselves on the front lines trying to meet the needs of our community.
To date, we have spent a great deal of time focusing on what we want to become in the future. We produced a board-approved 5-year strategic plan. My staff and I are working diligently to set 1-, 3-, and 5-year milestones. The plan has four pillars that will make us a viable force in the non-profit world for years to come. We look to expand access through more Market locations, grow our More Than Food program, increase fundraising efforts, and stabilize leadership training, development, and systems. Altogether, this will help us reach more people and have greater impact.
As we prepared for 2026, we increased our market hours, expanded food sourcing, and helped our partners and markets show up for more people in need of food. It only confirmed Small Things’ mission: We are the go-to place when a crisis hits.
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OPPORTUNITY SUMMARY
WHY THIS WORKS
[North Philadelphia Neighborhood] Two of our Small Things Markets (in Fairhill and Hunting Park) meet a vital need for food. Through June 2026, Small Things has distributed 253,170 pounds of food to 9,413 households through these two markets. That means an estimated 37,600 people (conservatively based on four people per household) have received food through your donations.
[Meal, Markets, and More Than Food] Meals, Markets, and More Than Food are at the core of Small Things’ new five-year strategic plan. Meals represent the 70,000 pounds of food we give to our 50+ nonprofit food pantries each week. The partners take it back to their neighbors who use it to prepare meals. Markets include our three full-choice pantries we operate in high-poverty neighborhoods of Fairhill and Hunting Park, and our pantry for those experiencing homelessness in Center City. And stay tuned, for news of a new pantry located just across the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Neighborhood Data Points (combined) Population
30,200
Median Income
$37,550
Food-insecurity rate
36%
% under poverty line
55%
Unemployment Rate
17%
SNAP recipients
61%
More Than Food includes our efforts to bring stability to people’s lives through workforce development, job exploration for high school students, and internships for college students.
Univest employees joined more than 1,800 other volunteers in supporting the work of Small Things to date in 2026.
[OUR IMPACT: JANUARY - JUNE 2026] Over 1.6 million pounds of food distributed.
2,171 volunteers help make it all happen!
11,672 shopping trips at Small Things’ three Markets.
MANAGER OF PRORGRAMS
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
[YASSMIN MOOR]
[NANCY GUZMAN]
As Program Manager, Yassmin oversees the development of Small Things’ programs and measures the impact we are making to alleviate poverty. She launched of our More Than Food program, which includes workforce development.
As Operations Coordinator, Nancy oversees the day-today operations at our three Small Things Markets. She orders about 20,000 pounds of food each week for all operations and decides what foods the Markets will offer.
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TESTIMONIAL
FINANCIAL SUMMARY Small Things is powered by donated food and money. Through June, we have provided high-need households with 1,617,626 pounds of food, worth $3,105,841. You helped to make this possible with your $360,541 in donations. To date, income is $99,278 less than projected in our 6-month budget. YTD Operating Expenses: Direct Program Costs: $507,285 (75% of expenses) Facility and Operations: $103,480 (15% of expenses) Administration: $69,664 (10% of expenses)
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS [FARHAD KABIRI]
As Director of Operations, Farhad oversees warehouse operations, budgeting, compliance, inventory, transportation, logistics, and human resources.
Bringing Stability to People’s Lives In April 2026, Small Things introduced our revamped Forklift Certification Program to members of the community. Once a month, Small Things opens its Roxborough warehouse space to teach a free forklift certification program. To do this, we must first train our staff to supervise and certify the students. And it means having two full-time warehouse employees spend the day teaching the students. Successful completion of the day-long program qualifies the students to apply for forklift jobs - an in-demand position with a starting salary of about $38,000 a year. One of those receiving the training is Jose Marquez, already a full-time member of the Small Things’ market staff. For Jose, the certification was a step he took to advance his skills. Job training is one way we help people find stability in their lives
$15 = $75 IN IMPACT For every $15 you donate to Small Things, we can distribute $75 of groceries to those who need it most.
ABOUT SMALL THINGS Our Vision: Stability Opens Doors
Stable lives start with a consistent source of food. Once that is accomplished, people can address other areas of need - such as housing, employment, medical care, and education.
Our Mission
Small Things and its partners increase stability in Market neighborhoods through healthy food, workforce development, and referrals to social services.
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VITO: MIDWAY THRU 2026 Where we are We are still providing people with access to food, distributing more than 70,000 pounds of food a week to our local partners, churches, and nonprofit organizations across the region. We also are expanding our Market locations. In addition to Markets in Center City, Fairhill, and Hunting Park, we will soon open a fourth Market in Camden, New Jersey. And we are boosting our More Than Food program to give people the help they need to move forward in their lives. Over the last three months, we’ve revamped our forklift certification program and certified 14 people on the forklift. This is an exciting program that will soon expand when we start hiring our own interns from the program. The interns will work side by side with Small Things’ team
WHERE WE ARE
to learn job skills and life skills. This only scratches the surface of what we want from our More Than Food program. We want to partner with others to offer nutrition education, healthcare, and other skills needed to achieve stable lives.
Small Things Warehouse
Stability opens doors
Emmanuel Hot Meals & Market
As we orient our strategic vision to reach people in this region, we now see the whole picture. We see that people need stability in their lives. This includes access to food, jobs, housing, medical care, and education – all basic needs we tend to take for granted. With resources, Small Things’ impact can be endless. With your support, we can continue to do small things with great love. I ask you today to consider sending a mid-year gift to help us achieve this vision of stability.
LEARN MORE www.smallthingsphilly.org facebook.com/smallthingsphilly instagram.com/small_things_philly linkedin.com/company/71181582 youtube.com/@smallthingsphilly
401 Domino Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19128
Fairhill Market
3510 A Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134
Hunting Park Market
1300 W. Hunting Park Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19140 123 S 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT SMALL THINGS To Donate by Mail:
Send checks made out to ‘Small Things’ to: PO Box 41156, Philadelphia, PA 19127
To Donate Stock & Securities:
Shares of stock, mutual funds, and other securities can be given to Small Things, if you have owned the stock for more than one year. Transfer securities to: Charles Schwab Name: Small Things Inc Acct #: 3040-0145 DTC #: 0164, Code 40 EIN: 85-3741798
DONATE ONLINE
Please notify us of your gift at admin@smallthingsphilly.org to ensure an accurate tax receipt.
To Donate Food:
We would love your help stocking the shelves of our Small Things Markets and helping us provide more food to our partner organizations. If you are interested in donating food to Small Things, please reach out to our Director of Operations Farhad Kabiri: farhad@smallthingsphilly.org.
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