Cindy Vong

Cindy grew up in Gunnison, Colorado, and graduated from Binghamton University with bachelor’s degrees in political science and environmental studies. She also holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Colorado Denver where Cindy pursued an independent thesis researching the intersection between food choice and … Read more

Chesterfield Polkey

Born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, Chesterfield graduated with honors from Macalester College with a degree in sociology and minors in political science, statistics, and French. Through the community service-oriented Bonner Scholars Program, he interned at Neighborhood House, a local social service agency. There, Chesterfield organized multiple lobbying days on … Read more

Agency Advocacy Toolkit

Philabundance Agency Advocacy Toolkit is a resource intended to enable food pantry, soup kitchen, and other direct service providers to effectively advocate on behalf of state and federal anti-hunger programs. The toolkit includes information about how to engage with elected officials, develop a … Read more

Alex Boyd

Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Alex graduated from Beloit College with a degree in sociology and literary studies in 2015. While at Beloit, Alex interned with a local food and clothing pantry where he coordinated a food donation partnership with his campus meal service provider. He also spent a … Read more

Maggie You Ming Tsai

Born in Taiwan, Maggie You Ming grew up in Fremont, CA, and graduated from New York University in 2015 with a degree in nutrition and food studies with a concentration in dietetics and a minor in molecular and cell biology. As an undergraduate, she served as a student leader for … Read more

Able Bodies, Empty Stomachs

Able Bodies, Empty Stomachs provides an analysis of the SNAP ABAWD policy, and includes strategies for advocates to reduce the policy’s impact on low-income communities.  Pennsylvania’s experience is presented as a case study.

Kalena Thomhave

Originally from Northwest Florida, Kalena graduated from Louisiana State University in 2014 with degrees in political science and English. After college, Kalena served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she worked on economic development through “Bank On Baton Rouge,” a program increasing access to banks and credit … Read more

Wes Gaddie

Wes grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas and received degrees in professional writing and museum studies from Baylor University. After graduating, he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the New York City Coalition Against Hunger and the Texas Hunger Initiative in Lubbock, Texas. As a VISTA, he facilitated a photography … Read more

Tina Tran

Tina grew up in North Richland Hills, Texas, and graduated from Stanford University in 2014 with a degree in human biology. She conducted research on the supplemental poverty measure and the Healthy Families (CHIP) program in California through the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality. She helped pilot a student-run … Read more