Students at Friends’ Central School are taking action this Thanksgiving to combat food insecurity in the Philadelphia area through schoolwide service and community partnership.
The Middle School collected over 2,100 non-perishable items, which were packed into 70 Thanksgiving bags for ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth. Remaining items were donated to local food pantries. The Lower School homerooms created and delivered 17 Thanksgiving baskets to area ElderNet recipients.
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In the Upper School, students contributed to the SHARE Food Program, a longtime FCS service partner, coordinated by Sophie Bobrin ’26. Their donations help provide meals for families experiencing food insecurity. Additionally, the Upper School Service Club ran its annual MANNA Pies fundraiser, selling over 115 pies and raising more than $4,300. Proceeds support people with serious illnesses in the Philadelphia area, with each pie representing a Thanksgiving meal for a client and their family.
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These seasonal efforts are part of a year-round commitment to food rescue at Friends’ Central. Oliver Grueser ’26 directs the teen-led Hunger Helpers program, collecting leftover cafeteria food daily and distributing it to community fridges and free pantries across Philadelphia and Chester. This work helps to ensure food reaches those who need it most while building connections across the community.
Together, students, families, and faculty at Friends’ Central are making a tangible difference right in their own neighborhoods, demonstrating that service, compassion, and collaboration can directly improve the lives of local families.
