1982
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The Erie Community Food Bank opens in January at the Curtze warehouse, 2001 Wallace Street, under the direction of Rev. Thomas Guerdot. In July, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie agree to become the sponsoring agent of the Food Bank and appoint Sister Augusta Hamel, OSB, executive director succeeding Rev. Guerdot. During 1982, the Food Bank distributes 444,916 lbs. of food to 40 agencies.
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1983
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The Food Bank moves to a larger warehouse at 1703 Ash Street to accommodate increased food donations. It also becomes a certified member of the Second Harvest National Food Bank Network with 40 member food banks in the United States. |
1984
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Computers are installed to handle inventory and agency orders. Freezer space is expanded to accommodate storage of eight truckloads of food. |
1986
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A grant from the Erie Community Foundation allows the Food Bank and the United Way to begin a seven-month hunger study in Erie. |
1989
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First year for the Bread Box Awards for creative food drive and fundraising efforts for the Food Bank. The Food Bank obtains 10,000 additional square feet of warehouse space to construct a reclamation center with a grant from the Zurn Corporation to store, sort and clean donated products that would otherwise be discarded. |
1990
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The Food Bank changes its name from the Erie Community Food Bank to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. |
1991
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Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA wins the Excellence Award from the Second Harvest National Food Bank Network in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in food banking. Second Harvest receives 600,577 pounds of surplus food from the Persian Gulf War. |
1992
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The Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA observes 10 years of service at a luncheon. |
1993
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Suzanne Cascio is named executive director, succeeding Sister Augusta Hamel, OSB. Second Harvest participates in the first comprehensive nationwide hunger study on emergency food programs. The hunger study is commissioned by our network organization, the Second Harvest National Food Bank Network. |
1994
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Results released from the 1993 nationwide hunger study reveal that 10.4 percent of the population rely on food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other emergency feeding programs served by the Second Harvest National Food Bank Network. |
1996
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The Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA receives a grant from the Nabisco Model Food Bank Award Program to produce a cookbook. For every copy sold, one is donated to someone receiving food from a food pantry. A Taste of Erie, a food sampling event, is held to demonstrate recipes from the cookbook. |
1999
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The Second Harvest National Food Bank Network changes its name to America's Second Harvest. |
2000
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Second Harvest opens the first Kids Cafe in northwest Pennsylvania, at Emmaus Ministries in Erie. The Kids Cafe Program was designed by America's Second Harvest. |
2001
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Suzanne Cascio announces her retirement, and Karen Seggi is named executive director. Second Harvest participates in the 2001 nationwide hunger study commissioned by America's Second Harvest. America's Second Harvest merges with Food Chain, a food rescue organization. |
2002
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Second Harvest Food of NW PA observes 20 years of serving those in need and distributes 6.6 million pounds of food. |
2005
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Second Harvest participates in the 2005 nationwide hunger study commissioned by America's Second Harvest. |
2007
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Second Harvest commemorates 25 years of service with a dinner and special recognition to donors, agencies and volunteers. Since we began operation in 1982, Second Harvest has distributed 137 million pounds of food and grocery products. Second Harvest is awarded a 20-foot refrigerated truck by ConAgra's Feeding Children Better Foundation. This truck allows Second Harvest to begin delivery outside of Erie County. A capital campaign to raise funds to purchase a new warehouse is launched. Second Harvest starts the first weekend BackPack Program in northwest Pennsylvania, at the Booker T. Washington Center in Erie. The program was designed by America's Second Harvest. Second Harvest becomes the lead agency for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in Clarion County. |
2008
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Second Harvest moves to a larger facility through nearly $3 million pledged in the capital campaign. The new location, 1507 Grimm Drive in the Veshecco Industrial Park in Erie, offers 60,000 square feet of warehouse space, twice that of the former location. Increased freezer and cooler space can accommodate additional product donations. Six renovated bays allow for convenient indoor loading and unloading of product. Second Harvest begins a Mobile Food Pantry Program to distribute food in rural and underserved areas. Second Harvest becomes the lead agency for TEFAP and the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) in Forest County. America's Second Harvest changes its name to Feeding America. |
2009
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Second Harvest participates in the 2009 nationwide hunger study commissioned by Feeding America. Second Harvest expands the Mobile Food Pantry Program from 6 mobiles in 3 counties in 2008 to 40 mobiles in 8 counties in 2009. Second Harvest receives a 14-foot refrigerated truck through a grant from a partnership between Ford and Newman's Own. Second Harvest is featured in a video about hunger relief produced by Newman's Own and shown on the Feeding America website and YouTube. Second Harvest launches its new website, which includes an Agency Locator feature. |
2010
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Second Harvest announces results of the 2009 hunger study, including a 40 percent increase in the number of people served each year -- 72,600. In any given week, about 20,700 different people receive emergency food assistance through Second Harvest member food pantries, soup kitchens and short-term shelters. Second Harvest receives a 10-bay modified beverage-style truck for mobile food pantries through a grant from Kraft Foods. Pounds of food distributed for FY 2009-10 total 7,782,780, an 11 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. Second Harvest begins the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), a monthly senior box program with food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in all 11 counties. Second Harvest holds its first Thanksgiving mobile food pantries -- in Erie, Meadville and Oil City -- with dinners for nearly 500 families through a grant from Citizens Bank. Pounds of food distributed for calendar year 2010 total 8,148,540, a 14 percent increase over the previous calendar year. |
2011
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Second Harvest becomes the lead agency for the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) in Clarion County and is named the lead agency for both The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and SFPP in Jefferson County. Second Harvest is awarded a 28' refrigerated truck through an Idol Gives Back Foundation grant, which also includes cash for mobile food pantry expenses. Second Harvest earns the top rating for sound fiscal managment (4 stars) from Charity Navigator for the fourth consecutive year, an honor received by only 8 percent of the charitable organizations rated. Second Harvest adds a part-time product resource staff person through a Feeding America grant from an anonymous donor. After a successful pilot BackPack Program in three School District of the City Of Erie elementary schools during the winter/spring semester, Second Harvest expands the program to 14 schools in the fall semester. Major funders include Ronald McDonald House Charities and Highmark. Thanksgiving mobile food pantries continue this year with Citizens Bank. A new partnership for distribution of Thanksgiving baskets through agencies is established with Rick Hinman for a total of 2,000 Thanksgiving and 600 Christmas baskets. Second Harvest sets a record of nearly 1 million pounds of food distributed in November. Total poundage for calendar year 2011 reaches 9,379,369, a 32 percent increase in two years. |