HARRISBURG, Penn.–With September Hunger Action Month, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank will be partnering with PSECU, the Hunger Action Month Presenting Sponsor, to host events, awards, and a virtual food drive initiative to highlight the issue of hunger in its area and to spur community action. Through the collaboration, now in its third consecutive year, PSECU will contribute up to $20,000 to the cause and encourage its members living in CPFB’s 27-county region to donate.
“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. “PSECU is a long-time partner of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and together, we invite our communities to join us in making this September our most exciting Hunger Action Month ever.”
“This marks the third year PSECU will serve as the Presenting Sponsor of Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month initiative. We couldn’t be more excited about the partnership and the positive impact our joint efforts – coupled with strong support from the local community – will foster for those facing the challenges of food insecurity,” said PSECU President George Rudolph. “We thank the food bank for allowing us the opportunity to collaborate with them in this truly worthwhile initiative.”
Hunger and community advocates from our area, like CPFB’s 7,700 volunteers and PSECU, are working together to shine a light on the issue of hunger and extend a hand to the one in ten of their fellow central Pennsylvanians who are hungry, the credit union said.
In conjunction with Hunger Action Month, the Food Bank will also be hosting its annual Hunger Heroes Awards at the Annual Hunger Action Day Breakfasts in the Food Bank’s healthy food hubs in Harrisburg (September 12) and Williamsport (September 17). Members of the community are invited to register to attend the free events at centralpafoodbank.org/ham.
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 said it will be matching donations made through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s virtual food drive up to a total of $15,000. 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.
In addition to virtual food drive donation matching in September, PSECU will provide the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank with a $5,000 sponsorship, bringing its combined contribution to a potential $20,000. As each dollar donated to the Food Bank equates to six meals, PSECU’s donation could provide up to 120,000 meals for those in need.
Additionally, the credit union said it will continue promoting ways families can use effective budgeting to make healthy food choices, highlighting hunger issues on college campuses, and volunteering at the Food Bank as a hands-on way to help end hunger.