For Immediate Release April 9, 2020
Contact: Jane Clements-Smith
jclemsmith@feedingpa.org
Phone: 570-867-3044
LEGAL PENNSYLVANIA SKILL DONATES $250,000 TO FEEDING PA
Donation provides 750,000 meals for families facing food insecurity during pandemic economic hardship
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Skill, whose skill games are manufactured by Pace-O-Matic and Miele Manufacturing, today donated $250,000 to Feeding Pennsylvania, the state association of Feeding America Food Banks, to help the growing number of families struggling with food insecurity.
The money from Pennsylvania Skill will be distributed among Feeding PA’s nine member food banks that serve all 67 counties across the commonwealth, and who are all seeing an alarming rise in need as a result of the economic instability caused by COVID-19. New unemployment claims surpassed 800,000 in Pennsylvania and many of these people are finding that they need food assistance to make ends meet.
The donation will pay for an average of 750,000 meals for needy families across the state.
“On behalf of our member food banks, Feeding Pennsylvania is incredibly grateful for the generous contribution from Pennsylvania Skill,” said Jane Clements-Smith, executive director of Feeding Pennsylvania. “We know that while unemployment numbers skyrocket, the need for essentials, including food, will only increase, and thanks to donors like Pennsylvania Skill, we will continue to work to ensure that no one in Pennsylvania goes without nutritious food.”
Pennsylvania Skill is made up of the operators and locations that carry legal skill games from Pace-O-Matic and manufactured by Miele Manufacturing.
The charitable food network continues to ramp up efforts to meet the increasing need, but this crisis response has also resulted in a significant financial burden for the food banks in procuring additional food, supplies and transportation. Food banks have urgently relied upon the generosity of donors to support these costs, which include supplies to ensure the health and safety of their employees, volunteers, and the clients they serve. Furthermore, the food banks have continued to see a rise in the cost of food from manufacturers going up from between 25 to 40 percent due to consumer demand. The need for donors will continue as this crisis response is anticipated to last for months.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in food insecurity across the country,” explained Philabundance Chief Programs Officer Stacy Behm. “Thanks to the generous donation from Pennsylvania Skill, we will be able to help our neighbors in need get the food they need during this difficult time.”
Like many industries, Pennsylvania Skill and its customers have been forced to temporarily shut down during the coronavirus crisis. Despite those economic hardships, Pennsylvania Skill understands money invested in organizations such as Feeding Pennsylvania is critical.
“This is a time when we all must do whatever we can to assist our neighbors and communities,” said Nicole Miele, who runs Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving. “Even before our current economic hardship, one in six children in this state was at risk of hunger. This is a huge need and we want to help.”
The Feeding Pennsylvania funding is the largest single contribution Pennsylvania Skill has made. Through its charitable giving, the organization regularly donates to community organization, including food banks, volunteer fire departments and social service organizations.
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ABOUT FEEDING PENNSYLVANIA
Feeding Pennsylvania is a partnership formed amongst Pennsylvania’s Feeding America member food banks. Collective efforts promote and aid members in securing food and other resources to reduce hunger and food insecurity for their communities across Pennsylvania while also providing a shared voice on the issues of hunger and food access. Member food banks serve nearly 2 million people annually by distributing more than 160 million pounds of food through a network of more than 2,600 agencies. For more information about Feeding Pennsylvania please visit www.feedingpa.org.
