Nutritional Development Services

06/04/2026

Today marks 80 years since the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) was signed into law! This milestone achievement has led to millions of kids across the country having consistent access to lunch at school.

On June 4, 1946, the National School Lunch Program was born. 80 years later, we’ve still got work to do, but we celebrate the generations of kids this program has fed. Shoutout to our friends over at School Nutrition Association for a legacy of serving excellence!🎉

06/01/2026

SUN Bucks is a grocery benefit program that helps combat childhood hunger in Pennsylvania, providing $120 for each eligible school-aged child during the summer for groceries. Learn more: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/summer-ebt

05/28/2026

We're moving! As of June 8, we will be just a few blocks away at Three Parkway. See below for more details and new address:

The Archdiocesan Pastoral Center will relocate from its longtime offices adjacent to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul to a new Center City location effective June 8.

05/21/2026

If you are a parish that regularly donates to a food pantry, consider hosting a Summer BBQ food drive! Your generosity could help folks celebrate the 4th of July with a family barbecue.

(Great service opportunity for vacation bible schools/camps as well!)

05/18/2026

For the month of May, Pope Leo's intention is "that everyone might have food". We join the Holy Father in asking that all people--from large producers to small consumers--be committed to avoid wasting food, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.

Today, millions of people continue to suffer from hunger. This threatens the dignity of the most vulnerable and questions the way we live and share our resou...

05/05/2026

Summer Meals Training kicked off today at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in West Philly! Over 250 sites throughout the city will be serving FREE meals to children this summer. Thank you to all the site supervisors who will be attending trainings over the next month!

If your organization is interested in becoming a summer meals site, please fill out our interest form here:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Od5I9WW_f02HHQfUzb6QzMFWeNr4hutIpe0sC_BWuspUOTlFWDBOOVJUUVQ0TVlGTFVDOVE0WVZQTy4u&route=shorturl

05/01/2026

04/29/2026

This Mothers’ Day, consider lifting up a mother in your life by supporting “Celebrating Mothers”, a fundraising effort for Catholic Relief Services. Your gift will allow CRS to continue their life-giving work around the world.

After the dismantling of USAID and drastic cuts to poverty programs, lives will be lost without access to food, water and medicine. The work of CRS is crucial to help people around the world.

Click the link below to donate:

https://crs.donordrive.com/campaigns/Celebrating-Mothers

04/28/2026

We are very sorry to share the passing of Msgr. Robert J. Coll, founder of CRS Rice Bowl. What started as an interfaith hunger-relief effort in the Allentown Diocese grew into a national movement. We are grateful for Msgr. Coll's vision and that his legacy lives on.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Monsignor Robert J. Coll, founder of CRS Rice Bowl.

What began as Operation Rice Bowl in the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania—an ecumenical response to world hunger during the Sahel drought—grew into a national Lenten program adopted by Catholic Relief Services in 1976.

Fifty years later, millions of families continue to use CRS Rice Bowl each Lent to put their faith into action, all because of Monsignor Coll’s vision and unwavering commitment.

“His faith never wavered. His enthusiasm never faded. And the warmth and inspiration he gave to those around him lives on in every Rice Bowl collected and every hungry family fed,” says Sean Callahan, President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services.

We invite our CRS Rice Bowl family to join us in prayer as we remember Monsignor Coll and give thanks for his enduring legacy.
May his compassion and dedication to our most vulnerable sisters and brothers live on—in the communities CRS serves and throughout our Catholic family.

🙏 Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Amen.

04/27/2026

Join us for a night that makes a difference ❤️⚾️

On June 5th and 6:40 PM, the Catholic Charities Appeal of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia invites you to CCA Night with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park!

This year’s beneficiary, the Church’s Nutritional Development Services, provides over 7.5 million meals each year to individuals and families facing food insecurity across our community. Through food pantries and meal programs, lives are not only sustained—but transformed.

🎟️ If we reach 500 tickets sold, a CCA beneficiary will take the mound for the first pitch AND sing the national anthem!

Come cheer on the Philadelphia Phillies and support a mission that feeds both body and soul.