John Moses Esq., AllOne Foundation board chairman.

John Moses Esq., AllOne Foundation board chairman.

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<p>Commission on Economic Opportunity Executive Director Gene Brady.</p>

Commission on Economic Opportunity Executive Director Gene Brady.

WILKES-BARRE — AllOne Foundation, a regional leader in health care philanthropy in Northeastern and North Central Pennsylvania, has expedited one million dollars in grant support to three major food banks serving all 13 counties in its service geography.

Leaders from the Weinberg/CEO Northeastern Food Bank, Central PA Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank were on hand to receive the support from AllOne Foundation leadership at the foundation offices in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

“The COVID-19 crisis has forced many thousands of our neighbors to seek assistance in feeding themselves and their families,” said John P. Moses, Esq., Board Chairman. “AllOne Foundation has prioritized supporting our charitable food system by expediting significant resources to meet these most pressing of needs in every corner of the 13 counties we serve.”

The grant will support hundreds of food banks, food pantries and school-based food distributions in Bradford, Carbon, Clinton, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

“At a time when our members are serving more people in need than ever before, we are incredibly grateful for the support of AllOne Foundation,” said Gene Brady, Executive Director of the Weinberg/CEO Northeastern Food Bank. “My colleagues and I thank AllOne Foundation for their leadership in so generously donating the resources that will help us continue to meet the critical needs.”

State addressing food insecurity

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recently outlined progress made in Pennsylvania to secure the stability of the food supply, increase market opportunities, protect the workforce, and ensure food is plentiful and accessible for all Pennsylvanians as the commonwealth works to mitigate against COVID-19.

“From the day COVID-19 knocked on Pennsylvania’s door, Gov. Wolf declared agriculture and the entire food supply chain in Pennsylvania as essential and life sustaining; because it is,” Redding said. “These uncertain times have highlighted the complexity of our nation’s food supply chain and required a new way of thinking; we’ve been actively triaging unprecedented situations as they arrive and working around the clock and across agencies to guide the industry and ensure food remains available and accessible.”

As a result of agriculture being life-sustaining, the department has encouraged food production and processing operations to continue, but has advised they adhere to the following guidance to minimize risk, maintain a healthy workforce, and ensure the safety of food:

The department has worked with the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association and directly with stakeholders to communicate with operators of grocery stores and other retail food facilities the importance of adherence to the department’s guidance and Secretary Levine’s worker safety order. The guidance includes both mandatory and recommended customer protective controls, employee protective controls, facility sanitation procedures, and advice to managers.

In addition, in acknowledgement of food and agriculture being life-sustaining, greenhouses and nurseries are permitted to operate to provide food plants and seeds to the industry and consumers. While garden centers are not permitted to maintain in-person operations, they’re allowed to remain operational through online sales and delivery. All of these businesses should follow the provided guidance.

COVID-19 has caused severe economic stress for many Pennsylvanians, and as a result food banks and their local community partners have been working in overdrive to meet the unprecedented demand.

“We are not willing to accept hunger as our next pandemic and will continue working to develop guidance and advocate for the industry,” added Redding. “They’re working hard, despite the uncertainty, to continue feeding Pennsylvania. I am eternally grateful for this industry and their life-sustaining work.”

The department has provided guidance to food assistance agencies to continue distributing food to those in need and protect both volunteers and clients from COVID-19. Pennsylvanians who have found themselves food insecure as a result of COVID-19 are eligible for state and federal food assistance.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.