The City of Scranton will provide $10,000 from its 2024 budget to the Lackawanna Food Policy Council (FPC) Fund to help improve coordination between agencies addressing food insecurity in the City and region. The planned donation was driven by the City’s Hunger Task Force. Funding from Scranton is in addition to $10,000 provided by the Scranton Area Community Foundation (SACF).
“We have a responsibility to ensure that children and their families have reliable access to food,” Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said. “I’m proud that the City is helping to lead the charge for better coordination of services for those in need in our community.”
“The Lackawanna Food Policy Council Fund exemplifies the power of community partnerships,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “The Lackawanna Food Policy Council Fund fosters innovative solutions to expand opportunities for residents in Lackawanna County to access the food they need.”
In 2024, the Lackawanna FPC adopted bylaws and established a charitable fund at SACF to raise funds for a FPC navigator position. That person will act as the manager of the FPC and be responsible for facilitating all aspects of the Council’s activity and collaboration among its members. Donations to the Lackawanna Food Policy Council Fund are accepted online at www.safdn.org/donate.
The goals of the Lackawanna FPC include providing residents with access to nutritious and healthy food, streamlining food provider processes to improve consumer experiences, and positively contributing to the health and well-being of Lackawanna County residents.
According to Feeding America, as of 2021, nearly 25,000 people in Lackawanna County are considered food insecure, including more than 6,000 children ages 18 and under. That rate is second regionally only to Luzerne County with more than 38,000 persons including nearly 11,000 children considered food insecure.
ABOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON: Incorporated in 1866, the City of Scranton has a population of approximately 80,000 residents and is the sixth-largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Scranton City Hall is located at 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Residents requiring services should visit www.scrantonpa.gov.
ABOUT THE SCRANTON AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: The Scranton Area Community Foundation is on a mission to enhance the quality of life for all people in Northeastern Pennsylvania through the development of organized philanthropy. With over $100 million in assets under management and more than 400 charitable funds, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served as a steward, grant maker, charitable resource, and catalyst for change since 1954. The Foundation leads various initiatives including Women in Philanthropy, the Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence, NEPA Moves, and the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. Additionally, the Foundation hosts and facilitates NEPA Gives and the NEPA Learning Conference. The Scranton Area Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization confirmed in compliance with National Standards of U.S. Community Foundations. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at www.safdn.org.
Scranton Provides $10,000 to Lackawanna County Food Policy Council Fund | Press Release
Last modified: December 23, 2024
