$100,000 Matching Fund and Food Drive Aim to Support Local Families in Need
Chester County United Way, Chester County Community Foundation, The Alliance for Health Equity, and United Way of Southern Chester County have joined forces to launch a collaborative relief effort to support our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Together, the organizations have each contributed $25,000 to create a $100,000 matching fund, unlocking a potential total impact of $200,000 for the Chester County Food Bank to amplify community donations and maximize the impact for local families. This initiative will keep shelves plentiful and provide essential aid to households across the county.
“In recent months, funding delays and changes to state and federal assistance programs, including SNAP, have increased the strain on families, resulting in more visits to local food pantries, hot meal sites, and shelters,” said Andi Youndt, CEO of the Chester County Food Bank. “As a result, the Chester County Food Bank has increased its distribution to these organizations by more than 2 million pounds year over year.” To meet this ongoing need, the partner organizations are also encouraging the community to help collect 50,000 pounds of food to restock shelves at this vital time of year.
“Chester County residents are amazing at lifting up our neighbors in need,” said Christopher Saello, President & CEO of Chester County United Way. “I am confident that through this collaborative effort, we can make sure that no neighbor goes hungry.”
“Abrupt federal funding cuts, the PA budget impasse in Harrisburg, cancelled contracts, rising costs, and increased need have collided to create a crisis. Sadly, the worst is yet to come,” said Karen Simmons, President/CEO of Chester County Community Foundation. “A coordinated response sustains access to food for needy families across the abundantly resourced Chester County. This buys a little bit of time to find new solutions and coordinate with new partners, to build a more resilient future where no one in Chester County goes hungry.”
“The inadequate food supports that previously existed are now exacerbated by politics that increasingly feel divisive akin to team sports,” said Kevin Ressler, President & CEO of The Alliance for Health Equity. “While we hope that national and statewide politics can remember that all community members are on the same team, we have decided we cannot wait to act in some way.”
“At a moment when so many families are on the brink of crisis, our partnership with the Chester County Food Bank means they can move emergency resources faster and more effectively to our local food pantries, ensuring that no child in our community goes to bed hungry,” said Darcie Martin, CEO of United Way of Southern Chester County. “We are proud to unite with Chester County United Way, Alliance for Health Equity and Chester County Community Foundation to provide some hope in a time of uncertainty for our community.”
Every contribution, whether financial or food, helps ensure that our Chester County neighbors continue to have access to nutritious meals. To learn more, click here. For those in need of food, resources are available by calling 211 or visiting the “Find Food” tab on the Chester County Food Bank’s website, chestercountyfoodbank.org/find-help/food-finder.