An Upper Darby woman knows what it’s like not to have enough food. When she was in school she’d sit without lunch in the cafeteria watching other kids eat.

Years later, she and her children were temporarily homeless after a fire, depending on donated church food that was sometimes spoiled and inedible.

Now 43 and a widowed mother of five daughters, Desiree’ LaMarr-Murphy is helping others find food, writes Alfred Lubrano for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The special needs coordinator for the Philadelphia School District runs various food pantries, two at elementary schools in North and Southwest Philadelphia.

With the pandemic, she’s operating out of her home.  On one icy, rainy day, more than 30 people lined up outside her middle-class Upper Darby home for food.

“This helps a lot,” said Maria Guzman Salazar.

Salazar, 43, a local manicurist, had her hours cut by the pandemic.  “We’re feeding four adults and four kids in my house, and this is very good food. Everything is fresh. I feel blessed.”

LaMarr-Murphy had a chance to talk about her anti-hunger mission with President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Philabundance.

Find out about the work of Philabundance in this short video.

Read more about Desiree’ LaMarr-Murphy at The Philadelphia Inquirer.