One in nine people, including one in six children, in Central Pennsylvania struggle with hunger. September is Hunger Action Month - a nationwide initiative to raise awareness and encourage action to help end hunger. During the month, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (CPFB) is partnering with its Hunger Action Month Presenting Sponsor, PSECU, to host events, awards, and a virtual food drive initiative to highlight the issue of hunger in our area and spur community action. Through the collaboration, now in its second consecutive year, PSECU will contribute up to $25,000 to the cause.
“We truly appreciate PSECU’s generous contribution and amazing engagement as our Hunger Action Month Presenting Sponsor,” said Joe Arthur, Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “Together, we invite our communities to join us in making this September our most exciting Hunger Action Month ever.”
“At PSECU, we believe in the credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ and that’s why on behalf of our more than 450,000 members, it’s an honor to announce PSECU’s role as Presenting Sponsor of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Hunger Action Month for a second year running,” said PSECU President Greg Smith. “We know that our joint efforts will help foster positive change and make a difference to those in need.”
Hunger and community advocates from our area, like CPFB’s 5,000 volunteers and PSECU, are working together to shine a light on the issue of hunger and extend a hand to the one in nine of their fellow central Pennsylvanians who are hungry.
In conjunction with Hunger Action Month, the Food Bank will also be presenting its annual Hunger Heroes Awards at the Annual Hunger Action Day Breakfasts in the Food Bank’s healthy food hubs in Harrisburg (September 13) and Williamsport (September 18). Members of the community are invited to register to attend the free events at centralpafoodbank.org.
To help bring additional awareness of hunger, the Food Bank has asked community leaders to be “celebrity volunteers” and help pack boxes, visit food distribution sites, and raise awareness throughout the month of September. These celebrity volunteers include public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit leaders, media personalities, and more.
During Hunger Action Month, PSECU will be matching donations made through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s virtual food drive up to a total of $7,500. This online initiative allows businesses and groups to raise funds to support the Food Bank’s work. On the platform, supporters can challenge friends and family with a virtual food drive on an interactive website that simulates how monetary donations efficiently purchase food for hungry families, veterans, and seniors. Learn more or make a donation at centralpafoodbank.org/donate/
To further strengthen this year’s virtual food drive efforts, PSECU will support a second drive during the month of December, matching up to an additional $7,500.
“We understand that hunger doesn’t take a holiday – its ongoing in our communities,” added Smith. “So, to encourage continued support of the food drive beyond Hunger Action Month, we’ll be matching donations again in December, helping those in need through the holiday season. Visit centralpafoodbank.org/donate/
In addition to virtual food drive donation matching in September and December, PSECU will provide the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank with a $10,000 sponsorship, bringing its combined contribution to a potential $25,000. As each dollar donated to the Food Bank equates to six meals, PSECU’s donation could provide up to 150,000 meals for those in need.
Additionally, the credit union will continue promoting ways families can use effective budgeting to make healthy food choices through its social media channels, highlighting hunger issues on college campuses, and volunteering at the Food Bank as a hands-on way to help end hunger.
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is one of 200 food bank members of Feeding America, which serves every county in the United States and provides more than three billion meals each year to Americans in need. To learn more about hunger and Hunger Action Month events, activities, and ways to get involved, visit centralpafoodbank.org/