2 0 2 5 IMPACTREPORT
Small Things
WHOWEARE
SmallThingsisahungerrelief organizationthatdistributesfoodtolocal communitypantriesanddirectlyhelps peoplefacingfoodinsecurityandpoverty inthePhiladelphiaregionthroughour threefull-choiceSmallThingsMarkets.
SmallThingsworkswithlocalpartners andcommunityleaderstoalleviate povertybyimprovingfoodsecurityand collaboratingtoaddressother communityneeds.
Over25millionpoundsof fooddistributedto familiesinneed.
32,340volunteerhours tomakeitallhappen!
3,942financialdonations fromindividualsand organizations.
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Fiveyearsisnosmallthing AsIreflectontheselastfiveyears,it’saboutthe peoplewehelpedandthosewhohelpedus That’showchangehappens This year’sSNAPcrisisbroughtgovernmentcuts,foodshortages,andmorehungry neighborstoourdoors Wesawa60%increaseindemand,butwedidn’tturn anyoneaway Weexpandedourhoursandworkedwithnonprofitpartners andlocalgovernmenttomeettheneed
Overthelastfiveyears,we'vedistributedmorethan25millionpoundsoffood Thatisamilestonewedon’ttakelightly Butevenmorepowerfularethe peoplewhohaveexperiencedfreshstarts,newjobs,andinternshipsthrough SmallThings We'vealsoseenourstaffgrow,andthisyearwedevelopedour firststrategicplan ThesebuildingblocksareestablishingusinPhiladelphia asatrustworthyorganizationthatkeepsitswordanddoesitsworkwell.
IadmitthatIamevenmoreexcitedaboutthefuturethanthepast In2026,wewillgrowourmarketsandour “morethanfood”programs.Wewillpartnerwithchurches,communitycenters,andgovernmentofficialsto createhubsthatofferservicesandaccesstohealthyfood–thingsthatwillbringpeoplelong-termstability.
Wearealsopreparingtorelocateourwarehouseintoahigh-needneighborhoodtobeclosertothe communitiesweserve.Thatmovewillallowustocreatenewcommunityhubs,expandvolunteer opportunities,andincreaseaccesstohealthyfood,nutritioneducation,andworkforcedevelopment programs.Aswedeepenourpartnershipswithsocialserviceorganizations,wewillexpandmentalhealth andaddictionsupportandincreaseaccesstostablehousing.Thesearethedreams.Thesearethepillars thatwillmoveusforward.
WhenIstartedSmallThingsfiveyearsago,IneverimaginedthepassionGodplacedinmyheartwould becomeareality Butitisarealitybecauseofyou Wewantyouinvolved WillyoucontinuetofollowSmall Things?Partnerwithus?Ask,“HowcanIhelp?”
SmallThingsisn’taboutanyonepersonoroneorganization SmallThingsiswhathappenswhenwedo togetherwhatwecan’tdoapart It’sacommunitychoosing,againandagain,todonogreatthings only smallthingswithgreatlove Andthatishowchangehappens
Sincerely,
Rev VitoBaldini ExecutiveDrector,SmallThings,Inc.
OUR PROGRAMS
MEALS MARKETS MORE
MealsconnectSmallThings withneighborhoods
ThroughMealsprograms, SmallThingssourcesand distributesfoodtoour50 hyper-localpartner pantriesthroughout Philadelphia.
E A L S
MarketsconnectSmall Thingstopeople
SmallThingsMarketsare freechoice-stylegrocery stores,eachservingdistinct populations:expanding accesstonewfreefood sources.
MorethanFoodPrograms connectpeopleto resources.
Theseprogramsaddress therootcausesofpoverty throughworkforce development,forklift certification,andaccessto housingservices
Coordinated1,369partnerpickupsand226food deliverieswithour50+partners.
Distributed3.3millionpoundsofgroceries throughourhyper-localpartnerpantrynetwork.
Providedgroceriesfor404,072people-over7,800 peopleaweek.Eachpersonreceived~7meals' worthofgroceriesatatime.
Packedanddistributed26,685healthykidssnack bags,providingkidswithbothnutritioneducation andahealthysnack
Partner Pantry Spotlight: Rev. Adan Mairena @ West Kensington Ministry
Rev AdanMairenawearstwohatsatSmallThings AspastorofWestKensingtonMinistry,hehelps leadaweeklypantrysuppliedbytheSmallThingswarehouseinRoxborough Asamemberofthe SmallThingsBoardofDirectors,hebringson-the-groundinsightandadirectconnectiontoWest Kensington,helpingensureourworkstaysrootedincommunityneeds.
InKensington,Adan’sministrymeetspeopleattheintersectionofspiritualcareanddailyneeds. Inanareawhere32%ofadultsand40%ofchildrenliveinpoverty,accesstoreliablefoodcanbe thedifferencebetweenuncertaintyandstability.“It’spredominantlyLatino,butmulticultural...It’s alsoanintragenerationalneighborhoodwithaseniorcenter,youthprograms,andlotsoftraffic.”
Adanexplainsthathungerisnotalwaysvisibleanddoesnotaffectonlypeoplewhofitcommon stereotypes Manyhouseholdsrelyonpublicsupport,andeventhosewithsteadyworkcanfall shortattheendofthemonth “Everyone,forthemostpart,suffersfrom[hunger],especiallyatthe endofthemonthwhenfoodsupportrunsout Alotofpeopleareonsometypeofpublic assistance,SocialSecurity,disability,foodstamps,butevenpeoplewithstablejobsoftenfind theirwaytoustomakeendsmeet”
Withconsistentaccesstofood,fooddistributionsbecomeaplaceofdignity,relationship,and belonging.“AtourfooddistributiononThursdays,[yousee]neighborsandmembersfromthe churchdistributingfoodjoyfullyandcompassionately.Youwouldfindadiversegroupofpeople comingforfood...peoplewhoknoweachotherandareconversing,”hesaid.Thereisa“senseof communityandfamiliarityandnonjudgment–volunteerswhomakepeoplefeelatease.”
Thatstabilitycreatesrippleeffectsforfamilies:
“I have seen single mothers be a little more relaxed and at ease because they are able to have a consistent, reliable source of food. [They can] take a deep breath and tackle other areas of their lives that need attention.”
Adanisclearaboutwhatmakesthispossible:partnership. WithoutSmallThings,“wewouldnotbedoingfooddistribution onThursdays,andallthepeoplewhohavegravitatedtoward becomingpartofthechurch,volunteering,wouldnotbe present wewouldbelessofapresenceinthecommunity Ourcongregation,neighbors,andthecommunityknowwe're alwayshere,andtheycancountonus”
OUR MARKETS
Hunting Park (House of Hope)
Fairhill
Intotal,thethreeSmallThings Marketsdistributedalmost 495,000mealstoover20,800 guests(withmanyrepeat visitors!)
Hunting Park
Fairhill
Center City (Emmanuel)
InpartnershipwithOperationWarm,SmallThings distributed3,000warmchildren’scoats-500throughthe FairhillMarket,500throughourHuntingParkMarket,and theremainingcoatsthroughourPartnerPantries
Center City
5,151guests 118,110meals 12,030guests 345,810meals
3,693guests 30,960meals
5,445hotmeals
M A R K E T P O R T R A I T S
JosestartedcomingtothemarketinFairhilllastyeartohelpfeedhis mother,wholiveswithhim.“We’vebeendoingverygood,”hesaid,taking homemeatandvegetables.“Gothereifyouneedfood:
“They treat you good and you’ll find good food.”
IcelsadiscoveredtheFairhillmarketaboutlastAugust:
“They have good food – everything – milk, cheese, all the vegetables. It’s very clean and the people are nice.”
For41-year-oldMarjorie,theSmallThingsMarketatFairhillhelpsensureshe andhersixchildrenandtwograndchildrenwillhavesomethingtoeat. Knowingshecanshoponedayaweekgivesherpeaceofmind
“The market took a lot of the stress you have when you can’t feed your babies.”
“Igetalittlebitofeverythinghere,”shesaid.“Mykidseateverything,soifIsee somethingnew,Itryit.”Once,shewasofferedfresheggplant,somethingshehad nevereaten Shetookitandfoundarecipeforit “That’swhyyougotoYouTube”She frieditanddiscoveredsomethingnewthateveryoneenjoyed “We’reveryblessed,”shesaid “IfnotforSmallThings,alotofpeoplewillgohungry”
EMMANUEL
OurEmmanuelprograminCenterCitybuilds connectionswithneighborsexperiencing homelessnessandfoodinsecuritythroughafree, hotlunchaswellastheEmmanuelMarket
Theprogramreinforcesthedignityofeveryperson byplatingandservingmealsrestaurant-style,with noneedtowaitinline.
Saturdays,volunteerssupporttheleadchefby preppinginthekitchen,platingandservingthe mealto100-150guests,andcleaningupafterward.
Thisyear,weserved amealto5,445guests.
MORE THAN FOOD
FORKLIFT TRAINING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
In2025,wehad9graduatesfromour ForkliftCertificationProgram.
Startingin2026,SmallThingswillhirea ProgramConsultanttotakeourforklift programbeyondcertificationandintojob placement,connectingparticipantsto rolesaveraging$38,500peryear.
Wewillcontinuetoofferfreetrainingfor uptofiveparticipantspersessionand adda90-daypaidwarehouseinternship foroneparticipantpercohort.The consultantwillcoachinternsinforklift skillsandworkplacereadiness,build employerpartnershipstoaligntraining withhiringneeds,andstrengthenreferral relationshipswithreentryprograms
In2025,wewelcomed37interns from highschoolstudentsexploringcareersto socialworkstudentsgainingpractical experience.WealsopartneredwithNew LeashonLifetosupportpeoplereturning fromincarceration.
ThroughPhiladelphiaYouthBasketball, teenssupportedahotmealprogramfor unhousedneighborsinCenterCityand helpedwithwarehousesortingand stackingfood.
SocialworkinternsservedatSmallThings Markets,connectingshopperstosupports TwoNewLeashinternswerehiredatthe endoftheirplacements
CONNECTION TO RESOURCES
OUR VOLU
SmallThingspartnerswithcommunityorganizations, suchasConcilio,tooffermorethanfood:connecting shoppersandgueststothesupporttheyneedtothrive.
Concilio(CouncilofSpanishSpeakingOrganizations, Inc)isPhiladelphia’soldestLatinononprofit When neighborsatourFairhillMarketneedhousing assistance,wereferthemtoConcilio WhenConcilio’s clientsneedreliableaccesstofreshfood,theyare referredtoSmallThingsMarkets
Wealsobringservicesdirectlytooursites Drexel Universitystudentshaveconductedbloodpressure screeningsforourunhousedguestsatEmmanuelin CenterCity,andAetnaBetterHealthhashostedhealth screeningsatourHouseofHopeMarketinHuntingPark. AtFairhill,partnerslikeBooksandBreadpromote children’sliteracy,andtheMaternalHealthCoalition providesessentialitemsforwomenandbabies.
By the Numbers:
4,062people volunteeredwith SmallThingsin2025.
909Warehouse volunteers
1,504Marketvolunteer
1,649Emmanuel volunteers
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Dipa’s Story:
Volunteer Spotlight: Benny
MeetBenny,a12-year-oldwhogatheredfriendsandfamily thisfalltoprepareandservetheSaturdayEmmanuelmeal forneighborsexperiencinghomelessnessinCenterCity.As partofhisBarMitzvahatTempleBethHillel-BethElin Wynnewood,Bennytookonplanning,cooking,andserving turninghiscelebrationintoamorningofserviceand welcome
AsBennyexplained:“ABarMitzvahiswhena13-year-old Jewishpersontransitionsintobeinganadult Muchstudy andpreparationarerequired withaBarMitzvah,thereis alwaysaMitzvahproject”HeaddedthataMitzvahis“to helpthepeopleinneedandbeabetterperson.Itjustso happens,feedingtheless-fortunatepeopleisaMitzvah.”
Bennyplannedthemenu,recruitedvolunteers,andraised anddonated$2,000tosupportSmallThings.“SmallThings hasreallymotivatedmetohelphomelesspeopleinneed,” hesaid.
Afterthemeal,hereflected:“EversinceIfirstcameand volunteeredatthechurch,Iknewtheplacewasdoinga greatthing.AndIwantedtobepartofthat…Ileftthatday knowingImadealotofpeople’sdaybetter.”
Dipadidn’texpectSmallThingstobringher backtoKolkata.VolunteeringontheMLKDayof Servicewithheremployer,shewalkedintoour Roxboroughwarehouseandstoppedatasign onthewall:“Youcandonogreatthings,only smallthingswithgreatlove”–MotherTeresa.
Thequotetookherbackmanyyears,towhen shetaughtataschoolfororphansinKolkata, India,alongsideMotherTeresa.“Shewasan angel,”Dipasaid.BackinPhiladelphia,seeing thosewordsagainremindedherofabelief SmallThingsshares:it'sputtingloveintoaction thatmatters,notthescaleofthehelp
unHUNGRY PLAN UPDATE
In2025,theunHungryProjectfocusedonthreepriorities:
“Free up Vito”
Expandingleadershipcapacity.WebroughtonYassminMoortooverseeallprogram areas.Sheisstrengtheningoperations,programdesign,andoutcomemeasures work thatpreviouslykeptVitotiedtoday-to-dayissues.WealsopromotedNildaPimentel,a keyleaderinlaunchingourFairhillMarket.Herdeepcommunityrelationshipsare alreadyopeningupnewcity-andstate-levelfundingopportunitiesandhelpingguide oursearchforalong-termhome.WehavebenefitedfromJohnWalter’spart-time advisorysupport.Together,theseroleshavefreedmoreofVito’stimeforstrategic relationshipsandlong-termdirection
Diversify Funding
Buildingsustainability.Weareworkingtoevolvefromafullydonor-supportedmodel intoanenterprisewithamoredurablerevenuemix,includingthelong-termgoalof warehouseownership.
Pilot “More than Food”
Launchingpathwaystostability.Thisyear,were-launchedworkforceprogramming andsecureda$35,000granttoexpandourForkliftCertificationProgram helping participantsearncredentials,gainexperience,andmovetowardstableemployment
Staff Spotlight: Yassmin
With15+yearsleadinghumanitarianprograms,Yassminbrings globalexperienceandadeepcommitmenttoequityanddignity. NowbasedinPhiladelphia,sheoverseesourfullsuiteofprograms, includingourthreefull-choicemarketsinFairhill,HuntingPark,and CenterCity,plusournetworkof52partnerpantries
“What drew me most was the chance to make a meaningful impact in underserved neighborhoods.”
Sheisjoiningatacriticalmoment,strengtheningoperationsand advancingourMoreThanFoodapproach,whichpairsfoodaccess withresources,jobtraining,andpartnersupporttocreatepathways tostability We’regratefultohaveherleadershipaswegrowour impactacrossPhiladelphiatoday,together.
5th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION & NOTES
InOctober,w celebratedo Birthdaywith party-friend andpartners andBarbDe amazingDire Partnerships theGreatLov
Birthday Notes from Small Things’ Friends
Congratulationsuponmeeting thishugemilestone!Fiveyearsreallyis nosmallthing,especiallytheselastfive years!Ithasbeenapleasureworking withyouallandwatchingSmallThings grow Iamgratefulforyourserviceto theNWPhiladelphiacommunitiesand hopefulforyourcontinuedgrowthinto thefuture!
BethanyFlood-ExecutiveDirectorof FoundationforHealthEquity
VitoandthewholeSmallThingsteam -whatajoyithasbeentopartnerwith youalltheseyears,firstwithEaster OutreachandnowSmallThings,and toseetheimpactyou'vehadforthe goodofourcity.Lookingforwardto manymoreyearsofpartnershipin lovingourneighbors!
PaulFuller-PastorofCityLight Church,Mt.Airy
ShoutouttoeveryoneatSmallThings Emmanuelthatmakesitanincredible experienceforguestsweekafterweek!
PhilAntonello-EmmanuelVolunteer
OUR PANTRY PARTNERS
SmallThingsservesindividualsandworkswithpartnersinPhiladelphia,Delaware,Montgomery, andCamdencounties
Ourgoalistocontinuallymovetowardbeingapresenceinareasthat experiencefoodinsecuritywhereourpresencecansupportthecommunity
8thStreetCommunityChurch
AtonementChurch
ByGraceAloneChurch
Concilio
CDAMinistry
DelcoFoodProject
EpiphanyGloucester
Esperanza
TheEverywhereProject
FeedPhillyNow
FirmHopeBaptistChurch
GoodSamaritanPantry
GrandsSteppingUp
GreenhouseProject
HeartofWorshipRestoration Center
HouseofPrayerforAllNations
ICPICNewAfricaCenter
IglesiaPentecostal
LivingWordMinistries
MercyNeighborhoodMinistries
MetroChurch
Mt VernonBaptistChurch
NeighborsHelpingNeighbors
NewCovenantCheltenham
NewCovenantChurch
NKCDC
NorthlightCommunityCenter
NowFaithWorshipCenter
OCCCDA
OneHopeChurch
OurMotherofMercyHouse
RoxboroughPresbyterian Church
TheSalvationArmy-CentralPA
SnyderAvenueCongregational Church
St Mark'sEvangelicalLutheran Church
StPaulMetropolitanAME Church
SundayLoveProject
TrueVineWorshipCenter
VictoryOutreachPhiladelphia
WestKensingtonMinistry
ZionLutheranChurchOlney
5 YEARS OF NETWORK PARTNERS
AetnaBetterHealthKids
CityReach
FirstBaptistChurchofPhila
FirstPresbyterianChurchofAmbler FirstUnitedChurchofChrist
GreeneTweed H ChaseLenfestFoundation
HarvestRockChurch
HeartofWorshipRestorationCenter HouseoftheGoodShephard
ResurrectionChurch
HuronConsultingGroup
IglesiaPentecostalChurch
JeffersonEinstein
KendraScottLLC
KensingtonCommunity ResiliencyFund
KingswayServiceInc
KuttinWealthManagement
LaColombe
LeoandPeggyPierceFoundation
LeveringtonChurch
LibertiChurchCollingswood
LibertiChurchFairmount
LibertiChurchMainline
LibertiChurchNortheast
LibertiChurchRiverwards
LibertiCommunionofChurches
LittleBrownBirdFoods
McLeanContributionship
MeaningfulMissions
MedTrack/Caresense
MercantileBeneficialAssociation
MercyNeighborhoodMinistries
MetaTechCo
MetroEastFalls
Mid-AtlanticFoodTradeOrganization MigaliIndustries
NewCovenantChurchofPhiladelphia
OakStreetHealth
PatriciaKindFamilyFoundation
PaulL NewmanFoundation
PECO
PennCommunityFund
PepsiCo
Philabundance
PhiladelphiaActivitiesFund
PhiladelphiaClassicalSchool
PhiladelphiaFoundation
RenewalPresbyterianChurch
ResurrectionChurchof Philadelphia
RotaryFoundationofPhiladelphia
RoxboroughChurch
SchmidtBaking
ShareFoodProgram
SharingExcess
SnyderAveCongregationalChurch
SpringGardenSoupSociety
SproutsFarmersMarket
SusquehanaInternationalGroup
Target
TheAgnesIrwinSchool
ThePohligCompanies
TheQuakerSchool
TheWayOutMission
Third,ScotsandMariners
PresbyterianChurch
ThomasScattergoodBehavioral HealthFoundation
TIBCOSoftwareInc
TitusTalentStrategies TOSAFoundation
TraderJoe's
TrusteesofPhiladelphiaAward UniversityofPennsylvania
UnitedWayofCentralIndiana
UnitedWayofPA&CentralNJ
UnivestFinancialCorporation
UtilityEmergencyServicesFund
UtzQualityFoods
VictoryChurch
VioletsInBloom
VolunteeringUntappedPHL
VOMOGives
Vynamic
WashingtonUniversityinSt LouisAlumni
WawaFoundation
WilliamPennCharterSchool
WWSmithCharitableTrust
Women’sBusinessEnterpriseCenterEast
WomenofKellogg
PhilliesCharitiesInc
PhillyFoodworks
PilgrimChurch
PincusFundforHungerRelief
Portescap
WSFSCaresFoundation
YourCause
ZallieCommunityFoundation
ZetaPhiBeta
2025 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
Lastyearwasthefirstyearofa3-yearplanthat focusedourworkonMeals,Markets,andMore You respondedtothatplanandtosupplychain disruptionswith$168millionindonations This supportkepthungeratbayacrossthecitywith stockedshelves,expandedhours,andafocuson increasingstabilityinhigh-povertyneighborhoods.
Fooddonationstopped$5.7millionforatotalincome ofnearly$7.4million.Wecoveredone-time equipmentandstaffexpensesfromreservesand headinto2026withastrongbalancesheetto implementtheplan’snextphases.
Note:SmallThingsemptiesthewarehouseofdonatedfoodattheendofeachyeartoensureadequatesupplyonPantryshelvesduringtheholidaysandtosimplifythe annualinventoryprocessAllofthereportedexpenseoverincomecanbetracedtothispracticeOnacashbasis,SmallThingsconsistentlyoperateswithamultimonthreserve Thesestatementsaresubjecttominoradjustmentsduringourannualaudit990sfrompreviousyearsareeasilyaccessedthroughtheSmallThingswebsite: wwwsmallthingsphillyorg/reports
Rev.VitoBaldini Executive Director
THE SMALL THINGS BOARD
Ricardo Maldonado BoardChair
AndrewKim Treasurer
JoanBoyce Secretary
THE SMALL TH
Rev.VitoBaldini ExecutiveDirector
BarbDelp DirectorofPartnerships
TonyTucker DirectorofFinance&IT
YassminMoor ProgramManager
JackKennedy WarehouseSupervisor
Sarah (Snider) Migali
Rev Mark Novales
Rev Adan Mainera
Rev Bonnie Camarda
Ben Ruegsegger
Claudia Ibarra
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.
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SmallThingsContactInformation
Email:admin@smallthingsphillyorg Phone:(267)702-0134
SmallThingsWarehouse 401DominoLane Philadelphia,PA19128
SmallThings MailingAddress POBox41156 Philadelphia,PA19127
SmallThingsEmmanuel 123S 17thStreet Philadelphia,PA19103
SmallThingsMarket(Fairhill) 3510AStreet Philadelphia,PA19134
SmallThingsMarket(HuntingPark) HouseofHope 1300WHuntingParkAve Philadelphia,PA19140
wwwinstagramcom/small things philly
www.facebook.com/smallthingsphilly
wwwsmallthingsphillyorg
