Throughout September, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank encouraged the community to contribute to its fourth annual Hunger Action Month Virtual Food Drive. To bolster collection efforts, Hunger Action Month presenting sponsor PSECU pledged to match the month's total contributions up to $10,000.
The response, which came from more than 675 local individuals, businesses, and organizations, came in at over $52,426. This amount, coupled with PSECU's $10,000 matching contribution, brings the fundraising total to over $62,426.
Each dollar donated helps the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank provide six meals for those facing food insecurity throughout its 27-county service area. That means that the money raised will provide 374,561 meals to people in need.
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank reported that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of families are facing food insecurity, many for the first time. In central Pennsylvania, one in 20 people is newly food insecure, and more than one-third of them are children, according to the food bank.
A virtual food drive is basically the same food drive concept people have always known - collecting resources for those in need - but with a twist, thanks to smart technology. It is an online initiative through which individuals and groups can visit an interactive grocery store that simulates how monetary donations efficiently purchase food for hungry families, veterans, and seniors. Benefits of the virtual model include time savings for busy donors, no expiration dates on food stock, and a supply of funding that can be deployed as needed throughout the year.
In addition to its $10,000 virtual food drive matching donation, PSECU provided the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank with a $5,000 sponsorship, bringing the credit union's total Hunger Action Month contribution to $15,000, the equivalent of 90,000 meals.
To learn more and make a donation at any time of year, readers may visit http://www.centralpafoodbank.org/psecu.
Leave a Review