|
Second Harvest Food
Bank History |
|
1982 |
Erie Community Food Bank
opens in January at the Curtze warehouse, 2001 Wallace Street, with
a staff of six under the direction of Rev. Thomas Guerdot. In July,
the Benedictine Sisters
of Erie agree to become the sponsoring agent of the Food Bank and
appoint Sister Augusta Hamel, a member of the Benedictine Sisters of
Erie, executive director succeeding Rev. Guerdot. During 1982, the Food
Bank distributes 444,916 lbs. of food to 40 agencies.
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|
1983 |
The Food Bank moves to a
larger warehouse at 1703 Ash Street to accommodate increased food
donations. It also becomes a certified member of Second Harvest National
Food Bank Network with 40 member food banks in the U.S. |
| 1984 |
Computers are installed to
handle inventory and agency orders. Freezer space is expanded to
accommodate storage of eight truckloads of food. |
| 1985 |
A furnace is installed to
heat the office area. The Food Bank is recognized by Second
Harvest National Food Bank Network as a national leader in food banking
for computerized record keeping and a well equipped facility. |
| 1986 |
A grant from the Erie
Community Foundation allows the Food Bank and the United Way to begin a
seven month long hunger study in Erie. |
| 1987 |
Results released from 1986
Hunger Study: 37,861 unduplicated persons from 15,471 unduplicated
households were served by emergency pantries and on-site meal
programs. 66% of those served still are forsaking meals. |
| 1988 |
A bulk packaging machine was
donated by the Erie Community Foundation to repackage thousand pound boxes
of pasta/dry cereal into family-sized containers. |
| 1989 |
First year for the Bread Box
Awards. What are the Bread Box Awards?
The Food Bank obtains 10,000 additional square feet of space in warehouse
to construct a reclamation center with a grant from the Zurn Corporation
to store, sort, and clean donated products. |
| 1990 |
The Food Bank changes its name
from The Erie Community Food Bank to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest
Pennsylvania. |
| 1991 |
Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA wins the Excellence
Award from Second Harvest National Food Bank Network in recognition for
outstanding accomplishments in Food Banking. 600,577 pounds of
surplus food from the Persian Gulf War was received.
|
| 1992 |
The Food Bank observes 10
years of service. |
| 1993 |
Suzanne Cascio is named executive director, succeeding Sister Augusta
Hamel, OSB.
|
| 1994 |
Results released from most
comprehensive hunger study ever completed on emergency feeding
programs. The study reveals that 10.4% of the population rely on
food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and other emergency
feeding programs served by the Second Harvest Network. |
| 1995 |
GTE begins the Telephone
Directory Recycling Project. The Food Bank coordinates the recycling
of the phone books in return for a $6,000 donation from GTE. |
| 1996 |
Second Harvest Food Bank of NW
PA receives a grant from Nabisco Model Food Bank Award Program to produce
a cookbook. For every copy sold, one will be donated to someone
receiving food from a food pantry. "A Taste of Erie," a
food sampling event, is held to demonstrate recipes from the cook
book. |
| 1997 |
During 1997, the Food Bank
distributes 6.4 million lbs. of food to 270 agencies.
How much food is distributed yearly? |
| 1998 |
Results announced of a
national and local hunger study entitled "Hunger 1997: The Faces
& Facts."
|
| 1999 |
During 1999, the Food Bank
distributes over 7.3 million pounds of food to 270 agencies.
How
much food is distributed yearly?
|
| 2000 |
Second Harvest National Food
Bank Network changes its name to America's Second Harvest. Also
during 2000, America's Second Harvest merges with Foodchain. America's Second
Harvest |
| 2001 |
Suzanne Cascio announces her
retirement and Karen Seggi is named Executive Director. 2001
Hunger Study Statistics |
| 2002 |
Second Harvest Food of NW PA
recognizes 20 years of serving those in need. During 2002, the
Food Bank distributes 6.6 million pounds of food. |
| 2003 |
The Food Bank is now serving
82,000 people in 11 counties through 256 member agencies. During
2003, the Food Bank distributes 6.4 million pounds of food. |
| 2004 |
During 2004, the Food Bank
distributes 6.2 million pounds of food through 245 member agencies.
The Food Bank, which has been in existence for 23 years, has distributed
a total of 123,148,268 million pounds of food in NW PA. |
|
2005 |
In 2005, the Second Harvest
Food Bank of NW PA distributed a total of 6.7 million pounds of food to
11 counties in northwest Pennsylvania. |
|
2006 |
During 2006, Second Harvest
provided 6.5 million pounds of food to 239 member charitable agencies. |
|
2007 |
Second Harvest celebrated
our 25th anniversary of service in our region. In its first year
of operation, a total of 444,916 pounds of food was distributed to 40
charities to feed those in need. Second Harvest has distributed
137 million pounds of food and grocery products since our opening in
1982. |
