Resource Guide
Jefferson Food Access Holiday Resource Guide

Connecting our community to healthy, affordable food across our region.

 

At Jefferson, we recognize that access to nutritious food is essential to good health. As part of our Healthy Communities Framework, we’re committed to addressing food access by connecting our patients, members, students, colleagues, and neighbors with resources that make healthy eating more accessible. This guide highlights Jefferson-led initiatives—like our community food pantries and volunteer programs—as well as partnerships with trusted organizations across the region that provide free or low-cost groceries, meals, and nutrition support.

Healthy Food Access

Resources

  • JeffCARES Community Food Pantry: The JeffCARES Community Pantry, operated by Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital, is open to community members, patients and Jefferson colleagues. The pantry provides free access to fresh dairy products, shelf-stable foods, meats and healthy recipes tailored to support conditions like diabetes.

    Pantry Hours:
    Tuesdays: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    Thursdays: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

    Location: 5587 Park Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141 (corner of Tabor Road, across from Broad & Olney Transportation Center)
     

  • JeffSERVES: Jeff Serves is a Jefferson Health initiative that repurposes surplus cafeteria food into meals for employees facing food insecurity. Meals are available each week at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Methodist Hospital.

    TJUH Meal Pickup: Wednesdays at 4 p.m. (while supplies last)
    Pickup Spot: Fridge under the stairs at the 10th Street entrance
    Methodist Meal Pickup: Wednesdays and Fridays at 3 p.m. (while supplies last)
    Pickup Spot: Morgan Conference Room (basement floor)
     

  • Jefferson Health Plans Community Wellness Center:  Our Community Wellness Center can assist with health and food needs, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.  To learn more, email us at communityconnect@jeffersonhealthplans.com.

    Location: 6232 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139
     

  • Fresh to You, A Farm to Families Initiative with St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children: St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children identifies Jefferson Health Plans families eligible for their Fresh to You Program through their dental health initiatives. Participating families receive a weekly delivery to their home of fresh fruit from the Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, as well as assorted vegetables and eggs from Carversville Farm Foundation and Procacci Bros Produce

  • Ramily Market Pantry: Jefferson’s Ramily Market is a Thomas Jefferson University student-centered food pantry designed to address food insecurity on campus for our students. To learn more visit Ramily Market Pantry

  • Asplundh Cancer Pavilion Food Pantry: Dieticians and social workers at Asplundh Cancer Pavilion work with patients before they start treatment to identify food insecurities using HRSN screening criteria. The team creates a custom plan for each patient supporting them throughout their treatment. Participating patients receive Instacart, Mom’s meals, Ensure, high-protein shakes, and even vitamin supplements. For more information email: Natalie.Darcy@jefferson.edu.

    Pantry hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Location: 3941 Commerce Ave., Willow Grove, PA 19090
     

Additional Food Pantries and Resources (PA & NJ)
 

  • Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania: Find a Second Harvest distribution site near you at shfblv.org

  • Philabundance: Find a local Philabundance distribution site in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey at philabundance.org

  • Share Food Program: Share Food Program supports hundreds of community partners & organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region to provide free, nutritious food for all. This map will help you find no-cost food at a pantry, food distribution site, or 24/7 community fridge near you. Share also offers free boxes of food & home delivery for seniors. Learn more at sharefoodprogram.org.

  • Sharing Excess: Sharing Excess is working with our partner network to make free food available at locations across the country. We're working hard to add locations each day, and will keep information updated here as it becomes available. Additionally, they regularly host Pop-up Food distribution events throughout the region. All events are free and open to the public. Food is first come, first serve. Find a site and learn more at sharingexcess.com

  • The Food Bank of South Jersey: The Food Bank of South Jersey works with more than 300 partners across Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties to provide food to those in need. If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, you can ;enter your zip code into the map on their site to search for a food distribution center. Learn more at foodbanksj.org

 

This guide will be updated regularly as additional food access resources become available across our region.