Holiday Meals for Dragons
Mario's Market is located on the second floor of the Rush Building.
Need some help with holiday cheer this Thanksgiving? Whether you’re looking for a festive meal, are experiencing food insecurity and need assistance, or want to help fellow Dragons or community members, there are avenues to full hearts and warm meals this season at Drexel University.
Finding food
The Feed a Dragon program offers multiple ways for students, faculty and professional staff to receive food. Inside the Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion (SCDI) located in the Rush Building, you can find Mario’s Market, a food pantry for the entire Drexel community. The hours are subject to change, but you can follow the SCDI Instagram to see weekly updates.
Students can also access meal swipes donated by other Dragons through a partnership with Aramark and the Drexel Campus Dining Program. Contact feedadragon@drexel.edu to learn more about receiving swipes.
Recently, to help students who may have been affected by the loss of SNAP benefits, the Pennoni Honors College opened the Pennoni Pantry to all Dragons. Drexel community members can drop off nonperishable food items, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Dragons can stop by the second floor of Bentley Hall to pick up nonperishable foods.
Sharing Excess, founded by Drexel alumni Evan Ehlers ’19 and Victoria Wilson ’19, partners with food businesses and banks to break down barriers to getting people fresh food. The organization keeps a calendar of pop-ups in and around Philadelphia where people in need can pick up fresh groceries.
Drexel’s Counseling Center also organizes a list of available resources, food pantries and cupboards, organized by neighborhood.
The Pennoni Pantry is stocked thanks to the Drexel community. They're still accepting donations.
Giving food
To help out with the above offerings this holiday season (and any time of year!), Dragons can also donate food to Mario’s Market and the Pennoni Pantry. At Pennoni, drop donations off in wagons on the first floor of Bentley Hall. Students with more meal swipes than they need can also add to the program by donating those.
For a big impact on the Philadelphia community, Drexel Alumni organizes the annual Alumni Turkey Project, now in its 52nd year. Frozen turkeys and sides are distributed to more than 50 organizations around Philadelphia, resulting in more than 28,000 meals distributed over the years. Packing and distribution volunteer spots are already full, but you can still donate to help the efforts.
Festive meals
If you’ll be around for Thanksgiving and don’t want to cook, two nearby restaurants are open on Thanksgiving to offer their own spins on the day’s feast.
Co-op Restaurant & Bar, located at Chestnut and 33rd streets, has pickup and dine-in options. Pickup dinners serve two adults for $88, which includes turkey and sides like mashed potatoes, rolls and stuffing. Dining in for $60 gets you the same main dish and sides, plus a starter soup or salad, dessert and a beverage.
Elsewhere in West Philly, at Baltimore Avenue and 51st Street, Booker’s Restaurant & Bar will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. serving their regular menu, plus “Sides-giving” items as specials.