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The Philadelphia Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) will prepare, package and ship 15,000 meals for needy people in the area this weekend as part of the 4th Annual Hibernian Hunger Project.
This "Cook-In" begins at 6 PM on Friday, March 14, and continues at 9 AM on Saturday, March 15, at the Teamster's Union Local 500 hall at 4700 Richmond Street in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia.
With the help of Teamster's union members and Local 500 President Frank Gillen, The Project will deliver the meals to local food banks, senior centers, churches and homeless shelters and link with social service agencies including Aid For Friends to distribute the food. Teamster's Local 500 is the lead sponsor of the event.
The Hibernian Hunger Project was initiated in 2000 by the Philadelphia AOH and Ladies AOH in remembrance of the more than one million Irish people who died of starvation and related diseases during the Great Irish Famine. This year the program has "gone national," and similar Hibernian efforts to feed the less fortunate are taking place across the country to coincide with the St. Patrick's Day weekend.
Bob Gessler, president of the Philadelphia AOH, said, "We are descendants of some of the millions of Irish Famine refugees who came to America, and we have a special understanding of the devastation that hunger can wreak on families, especially the young and old. God willing, other Irish groups across the country will continue to join us in feeding the hungry every St. Patrick's Day."
To further support the effort, the AOH / LAOH will be collecting cash donations alone the route of the Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade this Sunday, March 16. Another fundraising event will take place on May 10 with the Hibernian Turtle Race on the Delaware River near the Irish Memorial at Penn's Landing. An Irish-built replica of the Famine-era ship, the Jeanie Johnston, will visit Penn's Landing in June as part of a commemoration of the Irish Memorial site.
The AOH is an international Irish Catholic fraternal organization dedicated to "Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity."
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