Resource Guide
Jefferson Food Drive and 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

Jefferson Food Pantries

  • 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. – 11 a.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

  • Ramily Market Pantry: Jefferson’s Ramily Market is a student-centered food pantry designed to address food insecurity on campus. Learn more about the Center City campus pantry or the East Falls campus pantry.
     

    • Student Thanksgiving Grocery Giveaway: The Office of Campus and Community Engagement is hosting a free grocery and winter essentials giveaway—an extension of the Ramily Market—on Nov. 14 from 12–2 p.m. at Jefferson Alumni Hall (1020 Locust Street). For more information, contact CCE@Jefferson.edu.

       

  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono Colleague Food Pantry: A confidential and compassionate resource for Jefferson colleagues in the Monroe County region. Items available are non-perishables, canned goods, paper and hygiene items. For a ticket to access the pantry, e-mail Carrie Langdon at Carrie.Langdon@jefferson.edu.

    Pantry Hours:
    Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Location: Basement near Nursing Supervisors & Security

  • 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

     

  • Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg Colleague Sharing Shelf Pantry: Items available are non-perishables, canned goods, hygiene items, baby care items, and pet supplies. For more information, email: saad.meer@jefferson.edu, sidney.fries@jefferson.edu or carrie.kiley@jefferson.edu

    Pantry hours: Wednesdays 6 a.m – 8 a.m and 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. 
    Location: 2545 Schoenersville Road Bethlehem, PA 18017. Basement of South Building (orange elevators)

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 to make free food available at locations across the country. 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

  • City of Philadelphia: Use the food and meal finder tool to locate free groceries, meals, and benefit support in Philadelphia at phila.gov/food

  • PA Navigates: PA Navigate connects Pennsylvanians with health and social care services in their local community. Find help now with food, housing, utilities, transportation and more by entering your zip code at panavigate.org

  • Operation Turkey Free: Thanksgiving meal delivery on Thursday, November 27, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The request form closes once meals are filled or by Friday, November 21. 2025. Visit operationturkey.com to request a meal.

  • ALDI Supermarkets – “Thanksgiving for 10 for $40”: Affordable Thanksgiving meals for families. ALDI offers full meal ingredients—main dishes, sides, and desserts—for $40 or less. Learn more at aldi.us

  • Philadelphia Magazine – Local Restaurants Offering Free Food: Visit This guide to Philly-area restaurants and businesses providing free meals.


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

Jefferson Food Drive

This season, we’re inviting all colleagues to join us in supporting our communities through a system-wide food drive. Together, we can help fill pantry shelves and provide relief for families facing food insecurity during the holidays and beyond.

How You Can Help: Donate nonperishable food items at any of our collection sites across the enterprise. Every contribution—big or small—makes a difference.
 

Drop-off Locations:
 

Thomas Jefferson University

  • Edison, Hamilton, College and Alumni Hall buildings (Security Desks)
    Contact: Je'Nai.Righter

Jefferson Center (Main Lobby)
Contact:, Tiffany Tavarez

Jefferson Health – Central Region

  • Thomas Jefferson University Hospital – Gibbon Building (Atrium)
    Contacts: Kelsey Hart and Allicia Screven
  • Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital, Main Lobby
    Contact: Cortney Reed
  • Jefferson Methodist Hospital - Main Lobby (Chapel)
    Contact: Alena Baker

Jefferson Health - East Region

  • Jefferson Cherry Hill, Washington Township and Stratford hospitals (Main Lobby)
    Contact: Christina Carty

Jefferson Health - North Region 

  • Jefferson Abington Hospital
  • Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital
  • Jefferson Lansdale Hospital
    Contact: Christine Berkowitz

Jefferson Health - Lehigh Valley Region
Note: Collection dates for each hospital site may vary

  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks, Nov. 17
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest (Kasych Welcome Desk, Anderson 1st floor near pharmacy, 1230/1240 Welcome Desk and Jaindl Pavilion near Starbucks), Starting Nov. 12 
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg, (South and North entrance lobbies), Starting Nov. 24
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–17th Street, (Emergency Dept, 2nd Fl. Perioperative Admin Suite, Main Lobby, Transitional Skills Unit -TSU), Starting Nov. 17
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono (Employee breakrooms & non-patient care areas)
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–One City Center (Main lobby & 5th floor), Nov. 12 – Dec. 21
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton (Lobby), Until Nov. 14
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Carbon (Lobby), Nov. 12 – Nov. 30
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City (Employee breakrooms), Nov. 12 – Nov. 21
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street (Cafeteria), Dec. 3 – Dec. 21
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill S. Jackson Street (Front entrance), Dec. 3 – Dec. 21
    Contact: Erin Ludwig


Urgently Needed Items:
 

  • Shelf-Stable Proteins: Canned Chicken and tuna
  • Shelf-Stable Produce:
    Canned: Tomatoes, corn, sweet peas, green/kidney/black beans, peaches, pears, oranges
    Dried: Green lentils, split peas
  • Ready-Made Meals: Breakfast cereals, oatmeal, pancake/waffle mix, soup (low sodium, 500mg or less), canned tomato soup, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes
  • Cooking essentials & condiments: Cooking oils, spices, almond butter, peanut butter, jelly, mayonnaise, tomato sauce, hazelnut spread 
  • Grains: Rice, quinoa and pasta
  • Vegan Milks: Soy, almond and oat (Shelf stable, unsweetened, unflavored)
  • Coffee and tea

    • Please only donate non-perishable, non-expired products that are in boxes, cans, or plastic. All items

    should be recently purchased and in good condition.