BRYN MAWR, PA — Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) recently donated $20,000 to the Chester County Food Bank through its Essential Foundation. The donation forms part of the company’s annual Fall for Food Banks program, which aims to combat hunger and raise awareness about food insecurity in the communities it serves.
Essential Utilities Chairman and CEO Chris Franklin personally presented the donation during a visit to the food bank. Alongside other company leaders, he toured the facility and gained insights into the organization’s innovative programs designed to alleviate food insecurity in Chester County.
The Fall for Food Banks program, which distributed over $300,000 in charitable gifts this year, sees employees from across the Essential, Aqua, and Peoples companies in nine states partnering with local food banks. Their support spans charitable donations, food collections, and volunteer events each fall.
“In these challenging economic times, it is no secret that food insecurity has become a major issue in communities around the nation, including right here in Chester County,” said Franklin. “As a utility with deep roots in the region, we are committed to doing what we can to address this challenge. We are proud to support the Chester County Food Bank with a donation that will directly support the organization’s innovative approaches for meeting this critical need locally.”
The Chester County Food Bank serves over 40,000 people annually and distributes more than 3.5 million pounds of food. It collaborates with over 160 partners to provide culturally adaptive solutions to alleviate food insecurity in Chester County, prioritizing nutritional value and environmental impact.
Among the food bank’s programs are a mobile food market delivering to areas with limited grocery store options and transportation, and a restaurant workforce development program. More than half of the food provided by the food bank is fresh produce, the most requested item and often the most difficult for those in need to access.
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