Reverend Vito Baldini
Vito Baldini is a native Philadelphian who has served the city for more than a decade. An ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America, he has a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Cairn University and a Masters of Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary.
As Pastor of Mercy for the (former) Liberti Center City Church (now Resurrection) and Liberti Mainline, he became experienced with urban ministry in Philadelphia. He oversees Emmanuel Ministry, which provides a hot meal to those experiencing homelessness, as well as other social and medical services. He also partnered with more than 90 churches as director of the Easter Outreach ministry, which annually provided 10,000 Easter meals throughout the region.
More than a year ago, Vito left the church to become a missionary to the city. As such, he serves as the Director of Mercy and Justice for the Liberti Network and also as Executive Director of Small Things Inc. Small Things is a non-profit food distributor that partners with Philabundance to give away about 8.3 million pounds of food to 100 community pantries in 2021.
In 2019, Vito received an award from Social Innovations Journal for healthy food access for people experiencing homelessness in Center City Philadlphia. In 2020, the Philadelphia Council of Clergy gave Vito the Martin Luther King Jr. Servant Leader Award. In 2021, he and Small Things were honored by Philabundance with the Hunger Hero award. And in September 2021, at the Hispanic Heritage Ceremony sponsored by Concilio, Vito and Small Things were named Volunteer of the Year.
You can also read Vito’s story and work in this Inquirer article “Minister helping others as one of Philly’s hunger Fighters.”
Vito is married and the father of two daughters.