The Chester County United Way, Chester County Community Foundation, The Alliance for Health Equity, and United Way of Southern Chester County recently announced the successful conclusion of the Help Feed Chesco campaign, which surpassed its $200,000 goal and closed at an impressive $219,238 in support of the Chester County Food Bank and neighbors facing food insecurity. 

Launched in October, the collaborative campaign combined a $100,000 matching fund jointly contributed by the four organizations with widespread community participation to support the Chester County Food Bank during a time of heightened need. The match was designed to unlock up to $200,000 in impact, a milestone the campaign exceeded thanks to extraordinary generosity across the community. 

Corporate and foundation partners played a critical role in this success, with support generously provided by The Essential Foundation (Aqua Pennsylvania), Brumbaugh Wealth Management, Comcast, the Di and Dallas Krapf Foundation, the Krapf Family Foundation, KTA Funding Hope Foundation, the Robert M. Price Memorial Foundation, QVC Group, TruMark Financial, and Venerable. The campaign was also powered by numerous individual donors whose personal contributions helped propel Help Feed Chesco past its goal and demonstrated our community’s deep commitment to supporting neighbors in need.

This vital funding arrives as families across the county face increased hardship. Funding delays, changes to state and federal assistance programs including SNAP, and rising household costs have driven more Chester County residents to seek food assistance. As a result, the Chester County Food Bank has increased its distribution by more than 2 million pounds, year over year.

In addition to financial support, the campaign encouraged the community to collect 10,000 pounds of food to help replenish shelves at local food cupboards, senior centers, schools, and partner agencies.

“The generosity shown through Help Feed Chesco makes an immediate and meaningful difference for our neighbors,” said Andrea Youndt, CEO of the Chester County Food Bank. “We are deeply grateful for this amazing collaboration between our non-profit partners and the community’s overwhelming support. This type of collaborative effort is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when we work together.”

“We are proud to stand alongside our partners to help stabilize families who are at the brink,” said Darcie Martin, CEO of the United Way of Southern Chester County. “We are proud to stand alongside our partners to help stabilize families who are at the brink. This campaign ensures that emergency food resources reach pantries quickly and efficiently, offering hope when it is most needed.”

Kevin Ressler, the president and CEO of The Alliance for Health Equity, said, “While external and systemic challenges persist, the success of Help Feed Chesco reflects our shared belief that communities can thrive when acting together. This effort demonstrates the results of compassion as action.” 

“This outpouring of support sustains access to food for families during an especially vulnerable time. It also gives us space to work toward long-term solutions that ensure no one in Chester County goes hungry,” said Karen Simmons, president and CEO of the Chester County Community Foundation. 

“Surpassing our goal is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we unite as a community,” said Amanda Blevins, the director of community impact for the Chester County United Way. “Surpassing our goal is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we unite as a community. Chester County residents continue to show extraordinary generosity in lifting up our neighbors in need.”

Every financial contribution or food contribution helps strengthen food security for the more than 1 in 10 Chester County neighbors experiencing hunger. To learn more about the Help Feed Chesco initiative, visit www.HelpFeedChesco.org. 

For those in need of food assistance, resources are available by calling 211 or visiting the Chester County Food Bank’s “Find Food” directory at www.chestercountyfoodbank.org/find-help/food-finder.