Local Foundations & Funds Donate to Help Families in Need
In response to the exceptional need of Warren County residents experiencing food insecurity, local Foundations and Funds have come together to provide crucial support.
A total of $80,000 was donated to Second Harvest of Northwest PA specifically for the benefit of Warren County residents. This substantial donation was made through the Erie News Now Food Drive, which was held at Northwest Bank in Warren.
This outpouring of generosity began with a $20,000 donation from the Sokolski Family Fund, a donor-advised fund held at the Community Foundation of Warren County. The Community Foundation Board of Directors joined the effort with a $20,000 matching grant, and the DeFrees Family Memorial Fund, also held at the Community Foundation, committed another $20,000. The Richard T. Betts Family Foundation crowned this effort with their own check for $20,000, bringing the total benefit for Warren County residents to $80,000.
This single $80,000 donation accounted for nearly half of all monetary donations raised across the entire 11-county region involved in the Erie News Now Food Drive, which collected over $161,000 from generous donors.
The donors recognized the severe impact of recent Federal cuts to USDA programs that provide funding to Food Banks, as well as the delay in SNAP benefits. They hope that this donation will not only provide much needed support but will also encourage others to support local food pantries at this time of exceptional need. Mark King, Executive director at the Community Foundation shared, “The need is great, and Warren County always steps up with incredible generosity – something all Warren County residents should be very proud of.”
Second Harvest of Northwest PA, which serves 36 food pantries, mobile units, veteran and senior programs, and soup kitchens across Warren County, lost $1,000,000 in funding—a 25% cut to their food purchasing budget. The delay in SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown further added to the challenge, triggering a significant increase in demand on food pantries, seriously depleting inventories and straining volunteers.
Pictured presenting checks ( left to right):
Lincoln Sokolski representing the Sokolski Family Fund
Breanna Watts, VP of Development at Second Harvest
Tim Huber, Chairman, Community Foundation of Warren County
Mike DelPrince, Oversight Committee President, DeFrees Family Memorial Fund
Martha Betts representing the Richard T. Betts Family Fund
Mark King, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Warren County
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