1507 Grimm Drive
Erie, PA 16501
Phone: 814-459-3663
info@eriefoodbank.org
Mon – Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

1507 Grimm Drive
Erie, PA 16501
Phone: 814-459-3663
Mon – Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

News

The Backpack Program Helps Children



BackPack program helps feed Erie children

By ERICA ERWIN, Erie Times-News
erica.erwin@timesnews.com
Every Friday, Jamaica Woodard brings a backpack home with her from school.
 
Inside, along with homework and work sheets, is food meant to help get the 9-year-old third-grader through the weekend: soup, cereal, crackers, canned spaghetti in tomato sauce with meatballs, potato chips.
 
The bag helps when food stamps and Kimberly Davis' paycheck from a part-time job at Mighty ...

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Second Harvest Receives Grant



 Darden Restaurants Award Grant to the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA

Grant is one of more than 850 awarded through Darden’s 2nd annual Restaurant Community Grants program
 
The Second Harvest Food Bank has been selected to receive a grant as part of the Restaurant Community Grants program from the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants Inc. The grants program, now in its second year, empowers each restaurant in the Darden family of brands to help award a $1,000 grant to support local community programs. The donation will enable Second Harvest to continue in its mission to provide food for the hungry and eliminate the waste of food in 11 counties.
 
Darden’s Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille and Eddie V’s brands participated in the program. Many restaurants and brands worked together to award one nonprofit organization with ...

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Grandview Elementary Learns About Hunger



 

Grandview elementary in Millcreek hosts 'hunger games'
BY SEAN MCCRACKEN, Erie Times-News
sean.mccracken@timesnews.com

Most students at a school like Grandview Elementary School in Millcreek Township don't have a firsthand understanding of what it's like to not have enough food.

So a local food bank decided to show some of those students why it's important for those who have plenty to give to those who don't.

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania brought its version of the hunger games to Grandview's fourth graders on Wednesday. But instead of gladiatorial games and teens with bows and arrows from books and film, they sought to show students that food is a finite resource for many in the area.

"We're trying to teach kids, in a fun and safe way, about hunger and that the Second Harvest Food Bank has a presence," said Heather Musacchio, communications manager at the Second Harvest Food Bank of ...

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GEICO Funds Mobile Pantry In Bradford, Pa.



A mobile food pantry was held by the Second Harvest Food Bank for the first time at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Bradford, Pa. The program was funded by a generous grant from GEICO and was well-received in the community that it served. There were 3,344 pounds of food distributed to 80 households.  Pictured below are volunteers who distributed food to those in need. 

Vernondale Elementary Donates Soup



Vernondale Elementary School held a Soup'd Up Valentine food drive in the month of February with a goal of 1,000 cans of soup. Students pictured won the "Tummy Growler Award" for the class that collected the most soup and the student body collectively donated 1,021 cans of soup to Second Harvest to help provide for those in need during this cold season.

 

Second Harvest Staff Members Visit Capitol



Representatives from food banks across Pennsylvania celebrated the 30th anniversary of the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) which provides food for families across the commonwealth. Participants honored five sitting legislators who played a role in making SFPP state law 20 years ago. Members of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania spread out across the capitol to deliver a note and cupcake to each office to celebrate the anniversary and highlight the importance of this program. 

Second Harvest Food Bank staff members Rita Orinko, agency relations manager, and Sr. Karen Kosin, product resource manager, posed with local legislators during their visit to Harrisburg. Pictured in the photo are: Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, Rep. Pat Harkins and Rep. Florindo 'Flo' Fabrizio. 

Bonded Services Collects For The Hungry



Bonded Services held a week long food drive in the Erie area and collected 464 pounds of food in support of the Second Harvest Food Bank.  The food drive organizer, Dave Anderson, also received media attention for his idea to collect food at sites throughout the region. 

Pictured: Dave Anderson, Samantha Sherwin & Eric Nyberg

Coca-Cola And Country Fair Give Generously



Coca-Cola and Country Fair recently donated $5,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank. Representatives from both organizations presented a check at Second Harvest’s facility in Erie. Pictured: Valerie Novacco, Coca-Cola; Karen Seggi, Executive Director of Second Harvest; Christina Turliji, Coca-Cola; Stacy Kline, Country Fair Advertising Manager.

Citizens Bank Foundation Supports Second Harvest



To help hundreds of local individuals and families enjoy the holiday season, the Citizens Bank Foundation has donated $10,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania to support its Thanksgiving Mobile Food Pantry. The donation provided Thanksgiving dinner boxes to 426 families in Erie, Crawford and Venango Counties.

Food vouchers were distributed to needy families through the member agencies of Second Harvest.  Citizens Bank colleagues volunteered at three distribution sites and gave out the Thanksgiving dinner boxes to individuals and families in need who had a food voucher.

 “No one deserves to be hungry at any time of year, but especially during the holiday season when food and family are the foundations for celebration,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. “That is why Citizens has teamed up with Second Harvest for ...

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GEICO Funds First Produce Initiative



The GEICO Philanthropic Foundation has made a generous donation of $25,000 to Second Harvest to fund a Produce Initiative, a series of mobile food pantries and, in two counties, credit lines to traditional food pantries. This is the third consecutive year in which GEICO has been partnering with Second Harvest to help our neighbors in need in northwest Pennsylvania.

The Produce Initiative provided 67,616 pounds of potatoes, carrots and onions to people in need during the winter months and early spring. Many agencies expressed appreciation for the nutritional value and appeal of the fresh produce to the recipients. A staff member at the Christian and Missionary Church in DuBois, Clearfield County, commented at the time, “It’s wonderful to have healthful vegetables to distribute to our clients. They mention that they can use them to make dinner that night.” The produce was distributed at both ...

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