Food store joins campaign against panhandling

Mayor Ed Rendell, the Center City District and 7-Eleven Stores announced plans earlier this month to join forces in support of the mayor's "Campaign for Real Change" in a combined effort to combat homelessness. The campaign -- which was founded by Rendell in 1993 -- is an attempt to encourage people to stop giving change to panhandlers and instead to send donations to service providers. According to CCD Director of Public Information Nancy Goldenberg, 7-Eleven gave $10,000 to finance a series of public service announcements that have been running on TV and radio. She added that 7-Eleven is also running collections in all their stores across the region for the cause. "Certainly the visibility will carry the 'Campaign for Real Change' beyond the borders of Center City," she said. Last year, according to Goldenberg, the CCD raised $7,670. And she said that although the project was developed in Center City, it will also benefit areas throughout the region and city, including University City. "We had a wonderful experience working with the people at the CCD," 7-Eleven Public Relations Manager Margaret Chabris said. "By working with them we can make real change and actually provide significant help." According to Chabris, planning for the project began last October and featured close interaction between the different groups. "In order to serve our customers right, you have to be a part of the community," Chabris said. She added that recently the chain has begun branching out to help deal with problems like illiteracy, awareness of cultural issues and various social problems. "The CCD has done a marvelous job?[and] we thought maybe we could help," she said. "The neat thing is that the CCD already has solutions." She added that 7-Eleven is also participating in similar programs concerning the homeless in Richmond, Va., and Los Angeles.