FROM THE GREATER BERKS FOOD BANK
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FROM THE GREATER BERKS FOOD BANK
FALL / WINTER 2018
VOLUME 29
Help us rebuild and Drive Away Hunger ISSUE 3
a member of
The flash flood of August 31st
As many of you are aware, Greater donors and food program partners, the flood, also took on a much more
Berks Food Bank’s property was hit GBFB was able to get through the first significant meaning. The campaign’s
by an unbelievable flash flood on few weeks without our full truck fleet goal was to raise $100,000 – with
Friday, August 31. Very fortunately, the to the best of our ability. Some food another $25,000 matched by an
water did not enter our building and donation pick-ups had to be cancelled anonymous donor – to purchase
destroy food or equipment (it came or rescheduled; but, we made sure to what at the time would have been a
dangerously close though!); however, 4 make all deliveries to our programs, seventh truck for our fleet. Successfully
or our 6 trucks were trapped in the flood even if in a limited amount, so that the completing this campaign now, and
waters and destroyed. Ironically, these hungry of our community had food on
same trucks were delivering food for their families’ plates.
special distributions aiding those whose Many people asked – “weren’t your
homes were affected by summer trucks insured?” Yes, of course they
floods in Port Carbon and Tremont, were; however, all four trucks were fully
Schuylkill County and Hamburg, owned by GBFB and the insurance
Berks County. payout was far less than the expense of
It goes without saying, this was a purchasing four new trucks.
tremendous blow to the daily work of So, where did we go from there?
GBFB’s mission. These were the trucks
we used to pick up food donations At first, we rented several refrigerated
Michael Duff of Penske presents the
at our area retail grocers, food trucks to fill the gaps in our fleet.
donated truck to GBFB’s Peg Bianca
manufacturers and distribution centers. While renting the trucks has been a
These were, even more importantly, the considerable expense, there simply was
acquiring another truck to rebuild our
trucks we used to help distribute more no other way to conduct our critical
fleet, is an absolute necessity for
than 7 million pounds of food annually daily operation. Within a month of the
our operations.
to the 300 charitable food programs loss, our friends at Penske Truck Leasing
very generously donated a 2013 Please, help us rebuild our truck fleet
we support in Berks and
Freightliner refrigerated box truck to by donating to Drive Away Hunger. We
Schuylkill counties.
help us start rebuilding our fleet. Thank have already raised nearly $85,000.
In a testament to our hardworking you, Penske! Can you help us cross the
warehouse staff, and the understanding finish line?
and flexibility of many of our food Our Drive Away Hunger campaign,
which we had just kicked off prior to Either mail your donation in the
enclosed reply envelope or donate
online at www.berksfoodbank.org.
Please write “Drive Away Hunger” on
your check or note it on the online
dedication field.
Your gift will bring more nourishing food
to the table. Thank you.
Congrats Peg!
Board of Directors
Lori Endy, President
Met Ed/First Energy
Joshua Weiss, Vice President
Reinsel Kuntz Lesher
Marianne Pessognelli, Treasurer
The Highlands at Wyomissing
Nicole Pease, Secretary
Carpenter Technology
Robert Barto
Roland Stock, LLC
Ken Borkey
YMCA of Reading & Berks County
Courtney Dixon
Tower Health
John Flickinger
Redner’s Warehouse Markets
Bryan Geiger
M&T Bank, Pottsville
Ryan Hassler
Penn State Berks
Tasha Isaac Congratulations to our Executive Director, Peg Bianca, who in October
Berks Counseling Center
Brian Lawrence marked her 30th anniversary with Greater Berks Food Bank. Under her
Univest Corp.
Lolly Lesher
guidance and leadership, GBFB has grown from an organization that
Way-Har Farms distributed just over 1 million pounds of food annually to one that now
Dave Liptok
Giant Food Stores distributes more than 7 million pounds of nourishing food each year. Thank
Pete Molinaro, Jr. you Peg for being a tireless advocate and friend for our hungry neighbors!
Adhezion Biomedical
Susan Rohn
The Yocum Institute for Arts Education
Kim Scaffidi
First Energy/Met Ed
Donald Schalk
Alvernia University
J. William Widing III World Food Day Breakfast
Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys
On October 18, GBFB celebrated our 35th Annual World Food Day Breakfast with our
Staff supporters, volunteers, agency members, Board and staff at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Peg Bianca, Executive Director
Bethany Boyer, Inventory Manager
Executive Director, Peg Bianca, addressed the 250 attendees, summarizing “A Day
Dave Bradbury, Warehouse/Transportation in the Life” here at GBFB and the impressive collaborative community effort it takes to
Clara Brown, Agency & Volunteer Services Coord. distribute 7 million pounds of food (more than half of which is fresh and frozen food)
Ed Cox, Warehouse Supervisor
Dave D’Ginto, Warehouse/Transportation
to feed 120,000 of our hungry neighbors each year in Berks and Schuylkill counties.
Francis Delauretis, Warehouse/Transportation Terry Gilman of Met-Ed, a First Energy
Phil Demeo, Warehouse/Transportation
Deb Gehris, Business Manager Company, was also presented with
Aimee Hafer, Marketing & Development Asst. the 23rd Annual Jim & Anna Connors
Doug Long, Marketing & Development Manager Award. In his role as Met-Ed’s Manager of
Lori Lowery, Agency & Volunteer Services Coord.
Luis Martinez, Warehouse/Transportation Community Initiatives and Contributions,
Deb Mest, Agency & Volunteer Services Manager Terry supervises the company’s annual
Ronny Perez, Warehouse/Transportation Harvest for Hunger fundraising campaign
Allison Piscitelli, Accounts Payable Clerk
Jasmine Rodriguez, Agency & Volunteer Services Coord. to benefit GBFB. In the 17 years of Terry’s
Jesus Rodriguez, Warehouse Lead leadership, Harvest for Hunger has raised
Jane Vitalo, Customer Service Representative an incredible $400,000 here in Berks
Adam Winchester, Operations Manager
County for the Greater Berks Food Bank
to feed our hungry neighbors. Thank you,
If you have any comments or questions,
please contact the editor. Terry, for all you have done in support of
Editor: Doug Long GBFB and we wish you a very
E-mail: dlong@berksfoodbank.org
happy retirement!
A copy of the official registration and financial Special recognition was also given to our
information of the Greater Berks Food Bank may be
obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State Signature Sponsor, M&T Bank, who has
by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999. generously underwritten the Breakfast
over the past several years.
Thank you to all who attended the
Breakfast and to all those Thank you!
who supported it through
financial contributions.
Agency Feature : Mahanoy City Mobile Market
On the first Friday of each month, regardless of the heat of summer or the cold of winter,
nearly 200 struggling families in the small town of Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, visit
GBFB’s Mobile Market to receive much needed healthy foods to put on
their families’ plates.
GBFB opened its first Mobile Market site in spring 2016. As GBFB has worked hard to
grow our perishable food donation inventory (today it represents 54% of food received
and distributed) we needed more direct service programs to efficiently get it out to
those who need it. The Mobile Markets (which are set up to resemble a farmers market)
were an immediate success in accomplishing this mission, and have since expanded
to 7 monthly distribution sites, including the one in Mahanoy City, which began in the
summer of 2017.
Mahanoy City was selected as a Mobile Market site based on its high poverty rate
(36%) and limited access to other food assistance programs. GBFB was fortunate to
find supportive partners who allow us to host the monthly Markets: the Humane Steam
Volunteer Fire Company (inside during the winter months) and the Family Dollar store (in
their parking lot spring through fall).
With the help of a team of volunteers, GBFB staff distributes a wonderful assortment
of foods each month, including such recent items as: frozen turkeys, potatoes, milk,
blueberries, yogurt, pears, squash and celery. In total, 45,000 pounds of fruits, veggies, dairy, meats and breads were distributed
in 2018 at this Mobile Market site.
The Mobile Market is especially appreciated by many of the low-income seniors living in the Mahanoy Elderly High Rise located
just a couple blocks away. As one senior noted, “I live on a very fixed income and can’t often afford fresh fruits and vegetables. To
come here and get this food truly is a blessing.”
C R OP Walk Scouting for Food
The 37th annual Reading Berks CROP Walk took place
on October 7, at Gring’s Mill Recreation Area. The CROP
Walk raises funds and awareness for the issue of hunger
here at home and abroad. GBFB receives 25% of the
annual proceeds with Church World Services receiving
the rest. Since its inception, the Reading Berks CROP
Walk has raised over $1 million! More than 40 churches,
and 300 participants, walked this year. In addition
to fundraising, there is a friendly competition for the
Funky Flip Flop Award, which is awarded to the church
with the most youth participants. Congrats to St. Paul’s
United Church of Christ in Fleetwood for taking home
this year’s prize!
This fall marked the 32rd Annual “Scouting for Food”
drive of The Boy Scouts of America, Hawk Mountain
Council. On Saturday, November 10, residents placed
non-perishable food items in bags and left them
outside their front doors. The Scouts then collected the
donations to be brought to the GBFB. One of the single
largest food drives each year for GBFB, “Scouting for
Food” totaled 50,000 pounds of donations this year!
This long-standing tradition is one that our Executive
Director, Peg Bianca, feels brings the Scouts and the
community closer. “It’s really about the relationship
that the Scouts have with the community that make
a person inside that home put cans in the bag to
donate.” Thanks to the Boy Scouts for working so hard in
this “good turn” for the community!
Thank you Madison!
In October, we were excited to host a visit
from our favorite young supporter, Madison
Cannon. Madison, with the help of her mom,
grandparents and younger sister, Abigail,
dropped off the food and money she
collected at her annual lemonade and baked
goods sale she holds at her Shillington home in
late September. Friends, family, neighbors and
schoolmates from La Salle Academy (where
Madison is in the 8th grade) helped make
it a success once again. This year, Madison
collected 599 pounds of food and $1,202.17
to help GBFB feed our hungry neighbors! In the
eight years she has operated her stand, she
has collected an amazing $5,200 and 3,300
pounds of food. Way to go Madison!!
The Potato Project
celebrates 10th harvest
In the midst of a terrible economic recession, Walt and fall. Many more GBFB volunteers help packing the potatoes
Linda Zawaski, of Fleetwood, came up with an idea to help they can be easily distributed through our direct service
our struggling neighbors. They decided to plant potatoes, programs, including Produce 4 Kids, our Mobile Markets
with the help of members of their church, on a one-acre and the Mobile Direct program for in-need seniors.
plot of land at their home. That first harvest in 2009 yielded Through the years, sweet corn and carrots have been
about 8,000 pounds of potatoes, all donated to the added to the annual plantings. In 2017, the Potato Project
Greater Berks Food Bank. With that, IHartHarvest, also known surpassed an amazing one million pounds of crops
as the Potato Project, was born. harvested throughout its history! This year’s harvest, from
Over the past decade, the Zawaskis have incredibly grown 8 acres of donated land, resulted in more than 92,000
the Potato Project in a continued effort to nourish more of pounds of nutritious produce which went straight from the
our hungry neighbors. Additional plots of land have been fields to the plates of those served through GBFB’s network
lent for planting, and scores of volunteers (nearly 700 in of charitable food programs.
2018) assist with the massive effort of cutting potato seeds To learn more about the Potato Project and its plans for
in the spring and harvesting in the late summer and early 2019, you can visit Facebook.com/potatoproject.
After many days of unruly weather, the line of individuals
waiting at the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry in
September enjoyed an unseasonably balmy day. Now
held at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club at Pendora Park, Faces of Hope :
this program has been in action for over 20 years. On
a monthly basis, nearly 150 families receive food from Clara
this pantry. In the past year, GBFB has delivered 75,000
pounds of food to this pantry to nourish their
neighbors in need.
Here we met Clara, who was happy to chat, while
patiently waiting her turn. A married mother of four
children, ages 5 to 10, Clara is appreciative of both the
Club, and the food pantry. All of her children enjoy the
programs at their neighborhood Olivet Club, which is
where Clara first heard of the food pantry.
“My husband is the only one who works right now, all
different hours. If I work, too, the kids need a babysitter.
That costs a lot, so I’m home for now. I’m glad they told
me about this [pantry]. I don’t come every time, but it is
good to know it’s here if we’re going to run out of food
before he gets paid. We’re just really thankful that they
do this. And everyone here is always nice.”
Clara was excited to find that among the fresh food
offerings were some of her children’s favorites—apples
and pears. As a volunteer helped her shop, Clara
selected items that she knew her children would love:
crackers, juice, fruit, peanut butter, and cheese. They
may not want the Brussel sprouts, but she was going to
get them to try!
On behalf of Greater Berks Food Bank, thank you.
Because of your support we are able to help people
like Clara and her family, and so many more, get by
during difficult times.
We thank the following businesses, organizations and places of
worship that recently hosted food and fund drives*:
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom
Barrer & White Orthodontists Reading Royals Hockey Team
Berks Real Estate Investment Meetup Group Remax of Reading
Berkshire Hathaway Royer’s Flowers
Boscov’s Department Stores Social Security Administration
Boy Scout of America, Hawk Mountain Council Spring Ridge Elementary School (Wilson S.D.)
Brenntag North America St. Andrews United Church of Christ
Calvary Bible Fellowship Church St. Marks United Church of Christ
Century 21 Gold Tower Health
Century 21 Real Estate Travelers Insurance Company
Cranksgiving of Berks County Vision Federal Credit Union
Immaculate Conception Academy Weichert Realtors
Keller Williams Platinum Realty Wells Fargo Bank, Reading
Keller Williams Realty Group Wilson H.S. Boys Soccer
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Wyomissing School District
Madison Cannon Y102-FM
Pagoda Realty
Papa John’s St. Lawrence * Food drives of at least 100 lbs. and fund drives
of at least $100 from 6/23/18 to 11/16/18
Greater Berks Food Bank A “Giant” turkey donation
117 Morgan Drive
A Thanksgiving table doesn’t seem complete This generosity was part of Giant’s 95th
Reading, PA 19608
without a turkey. Fortunately, many local anniversary celebration, with similar
Phone: (610) 926-5802 families didn’t go without this year, thanks to donations taking place at food banks across
Giant Food Stores. Not only did their team Pennsylvania. Giant has been a longtime
Fax: (610) 926-7638
present GBFB with a generous donation of 600 supporter of GBFB, and is now represented on
Email: pbianca@berksfoodbank.org turkeys, they brought almost 3,500 pounds our Board of Directors, with the recent addition
of non-perishable food items as well! Twenty of Dave Liptok, Director of Operations. We
www.berksfoodbank.org
employees from various Giant locations appreciate Giant’s continued commitment to
About Our Organization . . . unloaded this amazing contribution, then spent serving our community.
The Greater Berks Food Bank, several hours volunteering in our warehouse.
established in 1983, collects,
purchases, stores, and distributes
over seven million pounds of food
annually to the more than 300
programs which feed the hungry
in Berks & Schuylkill counties.
FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS
Happy Holidays!
Return Service Requested
Permit No.14
Reading, PA Reading, PA 19608
PAID
117 Morgan Drive
U.S. Postage
Nonprofit Org. Greater Berks Food Bank
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