United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley provides funding for more than 25,000 pounds of fruits, vegetables and fresh protein to local food pantries through charitable support from Eli Lilly and Company to United Way Worldwide
As families across the country continue to face rising food costs and increasing barriers to accessing healthy meals, through charitable support from Eli Lilly and Company to United Way Worldwide, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is providing 25,000 pounds of nutritious food to the Greater Lehigh Valley community. The charitable support provided by Lilly is part of a nationwide initiative by Lilly marking the company’s 150th anniversary and promoting access to healthy food for those in need in 15 communities, like the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Through this initiative, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank, a program of Community Action Lehigh Valley, to distribute protein-rich foods to six area food pantries. Each pantry received at least 4,000 pounds of chicken, cheese and fresh produce to distribute to local families. Local pantries include Community Bike Works in Allentown, Northeast Community Center and Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem, Slater Family Network in Bangor, Parkland CARES Food Pantry in Orefield and Family Connection of Easton.
In addition to food distribution, United Way connected nine pantries to sustainable food solutions with HATCH cold storage units to expand their refrigerated offerings. The following pantries each received one HATCH cold storage unit delivered during the summer: Parkland CARES Food Pantry, Family Connection of Easton, Boys & Girls Club of Allentown, Living Christ Chapel Food Pantry, Syrian Arab American Charity Association, Bethel Bible Fellowship Church Groceries PLUS Pantry, Catholic Charities Diocese of Allentown, Zion United Church of Christ Delly Berger Feed-A-Neighbor Food Pantry, and St. Ann’s Bridgeport Pantry.
“This effort is more than providing food for today – it’s about helping families build healthier futures,” said Marci Lesko, President and CEO of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. “Too many families are forced to make impossible choices between buying groceries, paying rent, covering utilities, or filling prescriptions. By working together with Lilly and our community partners, we’re helping to ensure more people have access to nutritious food while strengthening the health of individuals and families. We’re grateful for Lilly’s support of United Way Worldwide, which is supporting this event, and the long-term impact it will have in our community.”
Nutritious food is a critical building block to lifelong health as it supports child development, helps adults manage chronic conditions, and enables older adults to live healthier, more independent lives. Yet many families continue to face obstacles – including affordability, transportation and limited access to fresh food – that make accessing nutritious food difficult. In fact, according to the Urban Institute’s Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, 1 in 4 adults report experiencing household food insecurity and having difficulty affording adequate food.
In the Greater Lehigh Valley, 20 percent of children experience food insecurity, and roughly 40 percent of all households struggle to make ends meet.
For more than a century, Lilly and United Way have worked together to advance health initiatives, support education, and address social determinants of health for stronger communities. Lilly is part of the President’s Circle of the United Way Leading Corporate Partners Program, a new United Way Worldwide recognition program. Nearly 600 United Ways have been supported through Lilly employee giving programs and volunteering.
Lilly’s commitment to community extends beyond philanthropy. Through its Global Day of Service, launched in 2008, thousands of Lilly employees volunteer in communities around the world. As part of the September 24 event, Lilly employee volunteers joined United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to give back to the Greater Lehigh Valley.
For more information about United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, visit www.UnitedWayGLV.org