An Upper Darby woman is serving hungry families in her community right from her own home.
Inspired by her own hunger as a child, Desiree Lamarr-Murphy set out on an anti-hunger mission and formed a free food pantry, Murphy’s Giving Market, in her house on Sellers Avenue in Upper Darby. By doing so, she is able to fulfill a promise she made to herself years ago.
“Because of my past issues with food insecurities, if ever given the opportunity, I would do better. I would make sure people had quality food that was culturally relevant that could sustain them,” she explained.
The market is open Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m. In the Philadelphia region, there are more than 800 food pantries, but Murphy’s Giving Market is the only pantry located in a private home.
And with the commitment comes financial challenges.
“We need a space. We can not get large sponsorships or donations because we’re in my home,” she said.
The market is dependent on donations, and her next steps are to find a space to work from that is outside her house.
