Volunteers take part in impactful activities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 19, July 20
PENNSYLVANIA, July 20, 2024 – The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) kicks off its fourth annual Pennsylvania Day initiative on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20 in support of Feeding Pennsylvania and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
July 20th is recognized as National Pennsylvania Day, and America250PA has dedicated this day to encouraging Pennsylvanians to volunteer across the Commonwealth under the theme of “Pennsylvanians helping Pennsylvanians.” This year, America250PA’s activities span across two days.
“America250PA is a historic initiative that celebrates our Commonwealth’s vibrant past and brings together our communities and leaders to make an even brighter future. Volunteerism, neighbors helping neighbors, Pennsylvanians helping Pennsylvanians is exactly how our Commonwealth and our communities have thrived over the last 250 years,” said Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA. “When we first launched the initiative, we hoped that Pennsylvania Day would inspire involvement from residents of all ages to lend a helping hand when they have it, and so far, we’ve seen just that and more.”
This is the fourth year that America250PA is working with Feeding Pennsylvania to recruit volunteers to assist with activities at food banks and pantries, such as preparing meals for families, packing food boxes to distribute to seniors and Veterans, and much more. This year’s food bank effort is generously presented by Natural Food Group and The GIANT Company. “Feeding Pennsylvania is excited to participate in the fourth annual state-wide volunteer initiative with America250PA and other partners,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania. She added, “We appreciate the extensive collaborative effort of National Pennsylvania Day, which helps support the volunteer services that food banks depend on to ensure nutritious food reaches Pennsylvanians facing hunger.”
“It is great to partner with America250PA again to celebrate Pennsylvania Day with a day of service at several of the local food banks we support throughout the year,” said Courtney Hopcraft, Manager of Community Relations and Charitable Giving, The GIANT Company. “The GIANT Company has a long history of serving communities across the commonwealth, both in and outside of our stores. Our team members are always willing to lend a helping hand and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate the state we call home.”
“Fighting hunger and providing healthy food options is essential to a thriving community,” said Murat Guzel, CEO of Natural Food Group. “Natural Food Group is thankful for the partnership with America250PA and we are a proud supporter of Pennsylvania Day.”
In addition to working with Feeding Pennsylvania, America250PA is also partnering again with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to include projects such as community cleanups and revitalization efforts in order to prepare the Commonwealth for the influx of visitors expected in 2026. America250PA, with the generous support of EQT Corporation and in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, awarded $19,500 in grant funds to support eight projects that aim to improve communities and engage volunteers.
“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is proud to support the [America250PA] partners and their projects. We know that community improvements, whether through litter cleanups, beautification, planting community gardens or improving playgrounds leads to thriving communities,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are honored to provide National Pennsylvania Day grants, with support of [America250PA], to invest in the noble and necessary work being implemented to improve communities and public spaces across the state.”
“EQT and the EQT Foundation are excited to partner with America250PA to help showcase the spirit of volunteerism in communities across Pennsylvania,” said Ellen Rossi, President of the EQT Foundation. “Over the next several years we are eager to see our beautification efforts increase the viability of rural and urban communities across the state, as well as become more deeply engaged with our neighbors.”
The 2024 Pennsylvania Day efforts expanded across the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Crawford, Dauphin, Erie, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Westmoreland and York.
For 2024, America250PA, Feeding Pennsylvania and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful recruited more than 520 volunteers who accomplished the following:
- Packed 6,437 boxes of goods and groceries, totaling 131,221lbs
- Served 2,997 meals
- Harvested 1,600lbs of vegetables
- Prepared 768 sandwiches
- Prepared 320 student weekend backpacks
- Planted 305 herbs
- Planted 280 flowers and plants
- Cleaned 40 acres of park land
- Planted 12 trees
- Installed and planted nine raised-bed gardens, including three sensory friendly gardens
- Installed two garden sun shades
- Cut, installed and painted one garden fence
- Repainted one replica train station
- Painted one community street mural and more!
America250PA was grateful for the generous volunteer participation from various Pennsylvania government offices including: Office of U.S. Senator Bob Casey; Office of U.S. Senator John Fetterman; Office of Congressman Glenn Thompson; Office of Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan; Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor; Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding; PA State Senator Judy Schwank; PA State Senator Sharif Street; Office of PA State Senator Cris Dush; Office of PA State Senator Marty Flynn; PA State Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz; PA State Representative Steve Samuelson; PA State Representative Emily Kinkead; PA State Representative Joe D’Orsie; PA State Representative Darisha Parker; PA State Representative Jared Solomon; PA State Representative Parke Wentling; Office of PA State Representative Tim Brennan; Office of PA Representative Marla Brown; Office of PA State Representative Jill Cooper; Office of PA State Representative Jamie Flick; Office of Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato; Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz; Crawford County Commissioner Christopher Seeley; Lawrence County Commissioners Dan Kennedy and Chris Sainato; Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe; Lycoming County Commissioners Mark Mussina, Marc Sortman and Scott Metzger; Office of Westmoreland County Commissioners Ted Kopas and Sean Kertes; York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler; Mercer County Treasurer Amber White; York County Recorder of Deeds Laura Shue; Rock Copeland, Erie County Council; Cindy Wojnar, Mount Pleasant Borough Council; Nathan Strunk, Pocono Mountain School District Board of Education; Clarion County employees; Montgomery County employees; and York County employees.
America250PA also received generous volunteer participation from various Pennsylvania businesses and organizations, including: EQT Corporation; Feeding Pennsylvania; The GIANT Company; Highmark; FirstEnergy; Geisinger Health System; Pennsylvania State Police; The Miss America Organization; The Pennsylvania State Society Daughters of the American Revolution and local chapters; Keystone Automotive; PSECU; GO Laurel Highlands; Penn State Extension; Apollo Area Historical Society; Arts & Education at the Hoyt; Girl Scout Troop 10168; Crawford County Historical Society, Founding Forward; Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove; Mericle; Bradford Area Alliance; Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Clarion County Garden Club; and many more!
Learn more about America250PA and Pennsylvania Day at america250pa.org.
About America250PA
The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) was established by the legislature and Governor in 2018 to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvania’s integral role in that event, and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future. The Commission is made up of current and past Pennsylvania leaders, celebrating the rich history and diversity of the state.
America250PA hopes to engage all citizens of the Commonwealth, from each of its 67 counties, to participate in creating a statewide celebration and bringing the Commonwealth’s history into the conversation. Together, we hope that as Pennsylvanians, we can better understand the origins and multiple perspectives of issues facing our Commonwealth and nation today. The Commission’s ability to communicate its vision, engage various audiences, and encourage inclusive and cohesive participation is key to a successful America250PA. The visionary framework – especially our E.P.I.C. theme of Educate, Preserve, Innovate, and Celebrate, contains the essential messaging to bring the Semiquincentennial to life across the Commonwealth.
About Feeding Pennsylvania
Feeding Pennsylvania is the state association of nine Feeding America-affiliated food banks serving all sixty-seven counties of the Commonwealth. Each year, our member food banks distribute over 164 million pounds of food to
1.5 million people through a network of almost 3,000 agencies and feeding programs. Feeding Pennsylvania’s mission is to aid in securing food and other resources for member food banks and to elevate a united voice to address hunger and food insecurity across the state.
About Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s vision is a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Since 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has worked with hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the state to pick up nearly 158 million pounds of trash from Pennsylvania’s roadways, waterways, greenways, vacant lots, forestlands and other community spaces. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s core programming focuses on litter and illegal dump prevention, cleanup, community greening, and proper waste handling and sustainable practices. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful works with many
partnering organizations on the state and grassroots level to accomplish our goal of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is the state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. To learn more about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Cassandra Coleman
Executive Director, America250PA
CColeman@America250PA.org