Harrisburg and Williamsport, PA (August 31, 2020) – 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), headquartered in Harrisburg with a location in Williamsport, is partnering with its Hunger Action Month Presenting Sponsor, PSECU, to ask the public to act on the issue in the region’s local communities. Additionally, through the collaboration, now in its fourth consecutive year, PSECU will contribute up to $15,000 to the cause and encourage its members living in CPFB’s 27-county region to donate.

Unemployment is at a record high, the cost of food is rising, and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of families are facing food insecurity – many for the very first time. In central Pennsylvania, one in 20 people are newly food insecure. More than one-third of them are children. Adults age 65 or older are a greater risk of severe complications from COVID-19, so they are urged to stay home. For many, being shut in has complicated their ability to access food.

“Now is the time to take action,” said Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Executive Director Joe Arthur. “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, our team has distributed more than 200,000 Crisis Response Boxes and millions of pounds of fresh produce, milk, eggs, frozen meats, and more to our charitable food network, enough to provide more than 30 million meals. We know that the demand will continue to increase as there continues to be a huge economic impact from the crisis. By working together, we can provide the healthiest foods available to those in need in our communities.”

“We’re extremely grateful for PSECU’s continued collaboration and support, and we ask that others in the community join us by advocating, participating, and donating to help bring an end to hunger,” Arthur added.

  • ADVOCATE!Advocacy with elected officials at all levels of state and federal government is key to ending hunger in Central Pennsylvania. By raising voices and letting elected officials know that there is public support for hunger-relief programs, we can drive policy improvements that will help end hunger.
  • PARTICIPATE!The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank could not do the work it does without volunteers giving back their time. (Due to safety measures, all packing is now taking place at a larger, off-site center in the Harrisburg area to facilitate social distancing and safety.) You can also support the conversation about hunger on social media platforms. Throughout the month of September, share the Food Bank’s social media posts by visiting facebook.com/CentralPAFoodBank.
  • DONATE!Every dollar donated helps the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to provide six nutritious meals to neighbors in need. In celebration of Hunger Action Month, PSECU is hosting a virtual food drive and is matching every donation – dollar for dollar – up to $10,000 throughout the month of September. Learn more or make a donation at www.centralpafoodbank.org/psecu.

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 $15,000. As each dollar donated to the Food Bank equates to six meals, PSECU’s donation could provide up to 90,000 meals for those in need.

“This is the fourth year that PSECU has served as the Presenting Sponsor of Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month initiative, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. Through this partnership – coupled with strong support from the local community – we’ll foster positive changes for many of our neighbors facing food insecurity,” said PSECU President and CEO George Rudolph. “We thank the Food Bank for their ongoing efforts to end hunger and for this opportunity to collaborate with them again on such a worthwhile initiative.”

In conjunction with Hunger Action Month, the Food Bank will also host a Virtual Town Hall meeting on September 10 to share details of how it continues to feed those in need and meet a demand that has increased more than 40% since March. Members of the community are invited to register to attend the free event at centralpafoodbank.org/ham.

About Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce hunger in 27 counties across Pennsylvania. By working with nearly 1,000 local agencies, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves more than 200,000 people in need each month. For more information on the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and its mission to reduce hunger in Pennsylvania, visit centralpafoodbank.org or call 717.564.1700 or 570.321.8023. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/centralpafoodbank and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @centralpafb.

About PSECU
Opened in 1934, PSECU was founded by 22 ordinary people who pooled $90 and made an extraordinary commitment to each other: To create a financial institution where collective resources benefit all members. Today, PSECU continues that legacy as a leading full-service credit union managing more than $6.5 billion in assets and offering its over 450,000 members convenient anytime, anywhere digital banking options. PSECU was named a 2020 Best-In-State Credit Union by Forbes Magazine and a Best Credit Union of 2020 by GOBankingRates. For more information about PSECU, visit psecu.com. View its Year In Review to learn how PSECU contributes to the greater good.

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