Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief group, recognized the Westmoreland Food Bank for its outstanding work.
The Delmont-based food bank was part of a group of nine such organizations given recognition at the conference’s “Network Celebrations” last week.
Feeding America officials highlighted how Westmoreland Food Bank officials organized regular calls with elected officials during the covid-19 pandemic, and pointed to its recent allocation of $4.4 million in American Rescue Plan federal funding which will be used to enable mobile pantry distributions, an updated website, an expanded facility and more.
“The relationships we’ve built in the community — with supporters, government officials and neighbors — are the reason for this accomplishment,” Westmoreland Food Bank CEO Jennifer Miller said.
In Westmoreland County, the food bank serves more than 8,000 households each month, with 60 member agencies in its network of emergency feeding sites. In 2022, the bank distributed more than 5.5 million pounds of food.
Other groups recognized at the conference were the Dare to Care Food Bank in Kentucky, FeedMore Western New York, Food Bank for New York City, Food Bank of the Rockies and Food Bank of Wyoming, Hawaii Foodbank and its affiliates the Maui Food Bank and Food Basket.
“Each of these network members made a huge impact in their communities alongside people facing hunger,” said Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. “This honor is shared by each person connected to the work at their food bank — employees, volunteers, donors and partners. From investments in Native American food sovereignty to advocacy for emergency food funding, to community support following a horrific hate crime in Buffalo, N.Y., last year, the achievements of these food banks demonstrate the impact we can have when we come together.”
For more on the Westmoreland bank, see WestmorelandFoodBank.org.
