With demand for food assistance increasing by 44 percent across Pennsylvania over the past two years, food banks are facing unprecedented pressure to meet the needs of individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. The three leading food banks serving the northeast and north central region of Pennsylvania are doing everything they can to keep up with the demand. Their partnership continues to help the region navigate persistent challenges, including inflation-driven increases in demand, reductions to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the loss of resources previously available through the federally funded Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program.
1.1 million individuals through 498 food pantries and partner agencies have been served. Funding is critical and AllOne Foundation has made a significant investment in supporting food banks with $975,000 awarded. Funds support the work of CEO Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. Six years ago, AllOne Foundation launched a systems-level effort to strengthen regional food security by convening the leaders of these organizations to foster greater coordination and collective impact across the charitable food network. In that six-year period, AllOne Foundation & Charities has invested more than $3 million to support the work of these three food banks and contributed over $5 million to advance food security across the region.
A key focus of the current investment is addressing geographic gaps in the food assistance network. Using hunger mapping and other community data, the food banks are targeting underserved areas where additional resources can have the greatest impact. “Our food security partners are seeking the right data to identify individuals and families most in need and least connected to existing food security networks,” said John Cosgrove, CEO of AllOne Foundation & Charities. “By investing in strong regional partnerships and strategically directing resources to underserved communities, we can better ensure that more people have reliable access to nutritious food.”
CEO Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank is expanding equitable food access in underserved Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties. The initiative includes strengthening the distribution of nutritious foods, increasing the use of technology to support data-driven decision making, and providing training, technical assistance, and equipment grants to partner agencies.
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is focusing efforts on Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan, and Tioga counties, where service gaps have been identified. Funding supports mobile pantry programs that bring nutritious food directly to rural communities, increases subsidies for healthy staple foods and fresh produce, and provides capacity-building grants to local partners. The initiative is expanding food access while supporting community-informed solutions grounded in comprehensive hunger data.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania is increasing access to nutritious food in Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties. The grant is expanding the distribution of healthy foods through its pantry network and, advancing its Healthy Pantry Initiative, improving warehouse operations through the purchase of electric pallet trucks, and strengthening food sourcing partnerships. The organization also continues to implement its nutrition-focused food policy and support complementary programs, including senior food boxes, MilitaryShare, school pantries, and local agriculture initiatives through its Seed Farm.
Together, these grants represent a coordinated regional strategy to improve food access, advance nutrition-focused practices, strengthen charitable food infrastructure, and build long-term resilience for communities across Northeast and North Central Pennsylvania.
Pictured in Photo, L to R:
Mary Carroll Donahoe, AllOne Foundation & Charities
Shila Ulrich, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
Jen Warabak, CEO Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank
Sarah Wassel, Second Harvest Food Bank
John Cosgrove, AllOne Foundation & Charities
Jesse Ergott, AllOne Foundation & Charities
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