Gather Food Hall - Opening Fall 2025
Nearly one in four college students in the U.S. struggles to access consistent, nutritious meals. Hunger affects more than just health—it makes it harder to focus, learn, and succeed. In other words: food insecurity is a major barrier to college success. We need innovative, scalable and sustainable solutions to address this massive challenge.
That’s why we created Gather Food Hall – a first-of-its-kind culinary space that combines talented culinary chefs with a bold social mission to address food insecurity among college students in Philadelphia. Backed by Brandywine Realty Trust, the chefs at Gather will offer some of the city’s most enticing cuisine, while working to address this important issue affecting our community.
Gather is more than just a food hall. It’s a welcoming space built to center student voices, offer resources, and strengthen local partnerships. It will feature:
Free, nutritious and filling meals to food insecure college students in collaboration with partners throughout the city.
Student-focused programming, including learning sessions, opportunities for student-teacher hours, and community events.
A network of partners and sponsors to enhance collaboration, visibility, and impact.
Storytelling and educational features throughout the space to highlight student hunger and reduce stigma.
How it Works
- Students receive a gift card from participating campus or nonprofit partners.
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Every vendor will offer at least one meal that can be purchased in full with the gift card.
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Meals are offered with no questions asked.
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Students will have both in-person and online options – no forms, no red tape.
Get Involved
We’re actively seeking community partners and corporate sponsors who believe that no student should have to choose between food and their education. To support our mission or explore partnership opportunities, contact our Philadelphia Program Manager, Brittney Pless, at bpless@believeinstudents.org.
In the News
Thank You to Our Partners
