Getting Ready for Easter Outreach 2025
In celebration of the Resurrection, Small Things is hosting its 15th annual Easter Outreach to feed hungry Philadelphians. Easter Outreach started in 2000 as a program managed by our Executive Director, Rev. Vito Baldini, when he was on staff at Liberti Church Center City. The last year Vito was on staff, he had 90 churches involved in distributing 40,000 meals. When Vito left the church to become a missionary to Philadelphia, he brought with him his knowledge of food sourcing and distribution. He founded Small Things with the goal of giving out food to hungry people every week, but kept his special emphasis on celebrating the Resurrection with food.
This year, Small Things will provide food to 40+ churches throughout Philadelphia for an Easter Celebration. Small Things' two direct-service food Markets will also be distributing food. All entities distributing food will host an Easter Celebration event that gives away food, serves food to create a celebration atmosphere, offers activities for children, and hosts prayer stations so neighbors can bring their petitions to God. We are excited that 42+ locations throughout Philadelphia will celebrate the Resurrection by meeting people's practical needs. Small Things will need to purchase the dry goods and fresh produce that will be distributed along with meat, snacks, and beverages we have already sourced.
The 40+ churches distributing food work in 27 zip codes across Philadelphia, almost all of which are characterized as low-income. Our two markets are located in areas where 37% to 42% of people live below the poverty line. The goal is to feed people and give the churches a chance to connect with their neighbors who need to get to know their Savior through a local church.
Small Things can vouch for the churches involved. Throughout the year, our church partners pick up 49,000 pounds of food a week from us and distribute it in their neighborhoods where they know there is a need. Since 2020, Small Things has distributed 23.8 million pounds of food.
Small Things operates three direct-service markets, two of which will be involved in the free food distribution. The Fairhill Market partners with the Philadelphia Gospel Movement. It serves over 300 families a week. The second Market is in Hunting Park, which serves 100 families a week. It partners with Grace & Peace Community Fellowship. The partnering churches will join the Markets' Easter Celebrations by sending volunteer workers and hosting the prayer tables. Our third Market in Center City primarily serves those experiencing homelessness. In partnership with Resurrection Church, the pantry will host an Easter meal, but this population mainly shops for ready-to-eat food in the pantry - not food that must be prepared in a kitchen. It serves an average of 110 guests a week.
The markets and the church-based pantries will distribute the free food between the Saturday before Palm Sunday and the Saturday before Easter. They will each host a community Easter program with activities for children, refreshments, and a prayer station.
As part of Easter Outreach, Small Things is also working with Convoy of Hope to offer training for local churches developing a compassion ministry. The first in-person training was held Saturday, 2.22.25, at a partner church in Torresdale. The cohort will gather six more times for online training sessions. Convoy of Hope has been a faithful food partner with Small Things. Our faith-based pantries were a natural group to introduce to Convoy of Hope's years of community development experience.