Giant funds central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s hunger mapping initiative

Giant has made a $225,000 donation to help fund the continuation of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s ground-breaking hunger mapping efforts in its 27-county service territory. The funding is part of the grocery retailer’s 100th anniversary celebrations and was announced at a “Hunger Mapping Summit” held at the food bank’s Healthy Food Hub in Harrisburg.

“In the ongoing crisis of food insecurity in our communities in Central Pennsylvania, today we recognize The Giant Company for its generous donation and ongoing support of our hunger mapping work, which provides communities with the data and roadmaps needed to address the barriers to healthy meals for neighbors and understand the connection between hunger and its various ‘upstream’ issues, including historic marginalization, housing insecurity, financial exclusion and low and irregular pay,” said Joe Arthur, CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

With Giant’s support, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank will release a similarly comprehensive report on the charitable food needs and resources in Lebanon County in coming months, and research is already underway in Dauphin, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties.

[Read more: Giant releases community impact report]

The Hunger Mapping Summit and gift is a continuation of Giant’s 30-year partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. The company has provided nearly 40 million meals to Central Pennsylvania neighbors in need, which includes nearly $5 million in monetary donations.

“As a grocer, we have the responsibility to connect families—no matter their circumstances—to food,” said Daren Russ, vice president, omnichannel operations, at Giant.

“Since 1923, strengthening food security has been essential to our work, and as The Giant Company celebrates its 100th anniversary, we are making strategic community investments to help expand food access and food security understanding so we can strengthen our communities for the next 100 years and beyond,” Russ added. 

The Hunger Mapping Summit brought together food system leaders to explore the impact of hunger mapping research and how it will benefit communities struggling with food security.

Moderated by ABC27 news anchor Dennis Owens, panelists included:

• Valerie Arkoosh, Secretary of Human Services, PA Department of Human Services
• Joe Arthur, CEO, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
• Caryn Long Earl, director, Bureau of Food Assistance, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
• Daren Russ, vice president, Omnichannel Operations, Giant
• Vanessa Philbert, president and CEO, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County

“Every Pennsylvanian deserves access to the nutritious food that they need to thrive, but unfortunately, too many in our communities are food insecure,” said Secretary Arkoosh. She noted that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program serves nearly two million Pennsylvanians and gives them a little extra buying power for fresh, nutritious food every month.

“The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is proud to administer SNAP, but we know that alone it cannot fully bridge gaps in food access and affordability for all people. It will take all of us working together—government agencies, community organizations like Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, corporations like The Giant Company—to eliminate food insecurity in the Commonwealth, and DHS is committed to being a partner in this work,” Arkoosh added.

[Read more: Giant partners with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to offer Healing the Planet grant program]

Following the panel, Zach Zook, the food bank’s senior manager of policy and research and team leader for the hunger mapping initiative, provided an overview of the research and findings from the completed work in Lancaster, Lebanon, York and Cumberland, counties.

Released earlier this year, the food bank’s Lancaster report discusses the barriers people face in accessing the Central Pennsylvania charitable food system, which can include weekday-only pantry hours, transportation difficulties and overly burdensome administrative requirements. The report highlights the unique and critical role food pantries play, and makes a series of recommendations for improvement, like offering weekend and evening pantry hours, including culturally relevant food choices and above all, centering neighbors in need in all conversations and planning.