National Fitness Partners volunteered with the Share Food Program, an organization that provides food to those in need. The franchise group placed food donation barrels in six of its Delaware County locations, including Aston, Broomall, Clifton Heights, Drexel Hill, Ridley Park and Springfield. From March 1-31, the group collected six 20-gallon barrels of food items for those in need. This was around 1,200 pounds of food total.

At Share Food Program’s Philadelphia location, National Fitness Partners’ staff members spent Feb. 23, March 16 and March 31 volunteering with the organization at its food packing warehouse. The volunteers worked on the conveyer belt loading a variety of food into boxes, which were later sent to seniors living below the poverty line. Their volunteers ranged from assistant general managers, general managers, area directors, field trainers, and the diversity, equity and inclusion specialist. There were around 22 volunteers who gave their time and energy over the course of the three days.

The franchise group first volunteered with the Share Food Program in September 2022 through its mission to serve local communities. NFP plans to continue to help with the organization because the staff loves working with their peers to make a difference. When the Share Food Program opens a warehouse location in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, NFP plans to volunteer there as well. 

“Organizations like Share Food program are vital parts of the community. In Philadelphia, roughly 1 in 4 people are living below the poverty line. That means thousands of people are wondering day to day where their next meal will come from,” explained NFP DEI Specialist Jasel Belizaire. “Organizations like Share Food meet the needs of people in their community. Not only do their employees do it generously, and with joy and love, but they do it sustainably. They repurposed an old warehouse and used it as their command center. They keep bees on the roof, and they harvest fresh vegetables from their community garden. If we want the people in our communities to live well, then we all need to get involved. We need to see our neighbors as our responsibility, too.”