Fall 2019 | Volume 29 | Issue 3

Celebrating the Legacy of Peg Bianca

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the evening of November 13 to honor the legacy of Peg Bianca as she prepares to retire as executive director of Helping Harvest at the end of this year.

Through her remarkable 31 years of service to our community, Helping Harvest grew from an organization that annually distributed just more than 1 million pounds of food to today distributing more than 7 million pounds of food (65% of that

fresh and frozen) and nourishing more than 110,000 hungry neighbors each year.

For the event, our warehouse was incredibly transformed into a beautiful event space through the talents of LEO Designs and 4 Wall Entertainment, both donating services for the event.

Our great friends at Redner’s Markets, under the skilled direction of their Chef Tim Twiford, prepared and donated the evening’s amazing food and ice sculpture!

The festive and elegant atmosphere was also enhanced by the sounds of Non-Zero-Sum, who provided the evening’s music.

The evening’s program allowed several individuals to thank and praise Peg. Feeding America, the national organization of food banks of which Helping Harvest is a member, was represented by Charles Dennis, who flew in all the way from Texas for the event. Long-time Helping Harvest friend and supporter, Art Haberberger, expressed his and his wife’s

fondness for not only Peg, but for the mission of our organization. Doug Long, Helping Harvest’s Director of Development, was honored to share the staff’s words of thanks and well-wishes and to introduce Peg to the crowd. Peg’s final words of gratitude and hopefulness for the future were appreciated by all.

Though Peg may be retiring, her legacy of feeding our neighbors in need will continue into the future through the programs she established and the support and hard work of our staff, volunteers and donors. All fundraising proceeds from the evening’s successful event will be used to sustain and expand the programs Peg holds so dear to her heart.

Once again, from the staff, and the entire community, thank you Peg for the unbelievable impact you have had on filling the plates of our hungry neighbors for the past three decades. We wish you many, many years of enjoying your well-deserved retirement.

FROM HELPING HARVEST

Staff members help celebrate with Peg

Peg enjoys the night with daughter, Marla, and husband, Tony

Thank you! Lead Sponsors:• Performance Toyota• Tower Health UPMC Health Plan

Impact Sponsors:• Discovery Federal Credit Union• Met-Ed, a First Energy Company• RKL

Hospitality Sponsor:• Redner’s Fresh Market

In-Kind Sponsors:

• 4 Wall Entertainment• LEO Designs

Board of Directors

Joshua Weiss, Chair Reinsel Kuntz Lesher John Flickinger, Vice President Redner’s Markets Inc.Marianne Pessognelli, Treasurer The Highlands at WyomissingNicole Pease, Secretary Carpenter Technology

Robert Barto Roland Stock, LLCKen Borkey YMCA of Reading & Berks CountyCourtney Dixon Reading Hospital Tower HealthRyan Hassler Penn State BerksTasha Isaac Berks Counseling CenterLolly Lesher Way-Har FarmsDave Liptok Giant Food StoresPeter Molinaro, Jr. Adhezion BiomedicalKim Scaffidi Met Ed/First EnergyDonald Schalk Alvernia UniversityJ. William Widing III Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys Pam Witmer M&T Bank, Pottsville

StaffPeg Bianca, Executive DirectorDave Bradbury, Warehouse/TransportationClara Brown, Agency & Vol. Services Coord.Santiago Castaneda, Warehouse LeadDanny Colon, Warehouse/TransportationEd Cox, Warehouse SupervisorFrancis Delauretis, Warehouse/TransportationPhil Demeo, Warehouse/TransportationDave D’Ginto, Warehouse/TransportationDeb Gehris, Business ManagerAimee Hafer, Marketing & Development Asst.Doug Long, Director of DevelopmentLori Lowery, Agency & Vol. Services Coord.Luis Martinez, Warehouse/TransportationDeb Mest, Director of Food Sourcing & LogisticsEmily Miller, Inventory ClerkAllison Piscitelli, Accounting ClerkJasmine Rodriguez, Agency & Vol. Services Coord.Jane Vitalo, Customer Service RepresentativeJim Walton, Inventory ManagerAdam Winchester, Director of OperationsJay Worrall, President

If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor.Editor: Doug LongEmail: dlong@helpingharvest.org

A copy of the official registration and financialinformation of Greater Berks Food Bank d.b.a. Helping Harvest may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

We thank the following businesses, organizations and places of worship that recently hosted food and fund drives:

• Akzo Nobel Powder Coatings• Barrer & White Orthodontists• Bellco Federal Credit Union• Boy Scouts of America• Brandywine Heights Area School District• C.H. Robinson• Madison Cannon’s “Lemonade Stand”• Century 21 Gold• Century 21 Park Road• Citizens Bank• Coldwell Banker• Cranksgiving of Berks County• Daniel Boone Edu. Assoc.

• G&T Industries• Iron Valley Real Estate• Montessori Country Day School• Pagoda Realty• Reading-Berks Assoc. of Realtors• Reading Royals• Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom• Remax of Reading• St. Marks UCC• The Mint Leaf• United Real Estate• Willow Hollow Ladies’ Golf League• Wilson High School Boys Soccer

* Food drives of at least 100 lbs. and fund drives of at least $100 from 7/27/19 to 11/20/19

From the President

Dear Friend of Helping Harvest,

As I write this message I am celebrating the end of my sixth week as President of Helping Harvest, and as we move into the week of Thanksgiving I realize I have so much to be thankful for. First, I have been so welcomed by our staff and especially by outgoing Executive Director Peg Bianca. I hope those of you who joined us at Peg’s retirement party in our exceptional warehouse were as impressed as I was by the tremendous growth and community impact of our food bank in the 31 years during which Peg was our leader.

Secondly, I am grateful for the support and kindness shown to me by the staff at Helping Harvest. Each and every employee here clearly has a remarkable affinity for our mission, and there is a positive culture here that makes coming to work every day a joy. I rarely have seen a group in which people look out for each other more than this group of caring co-workers. Perhaps most importantly, our team has a very high level of tolerance for the new guy who barely knows anything yet.

Finally, I am so inspired by the number of volunteers that work with us providing food for low-income families in Berks and Schuylkill Counties. From our Produce 4 Kids helpers to our warehouse volunteers to our Board of Directors, Helping Harvest is truly a volunteer-driven organization. Thanks so much for your service and I look forward to working with you to eliminate hunger in our community.

Your Friend,

Since 2009, Zion Blue Mountain United Church of Christ in Strausstown has been opening its doors to serve neighbors in need. Headed by Robin Faust, this monthly pantry regularly serves 75-80 families living in Tulpehocken Township.

The third Thursday of each month, volunteers spend their morning unpacking and organizing food in preparation for the evening distribution. When asked why Zion distributes in the evening, Robin replied, “We do get senior citizens, but it’s mostly families. These people work full time every day and still can’t afford food along with their other bills. We have it later so that they can get here.”

In the past year, Zion has distributed 33,000 pounds of food supplied by Helping Harvest. When placing an order, a lot of thought goes into each selection. “We try to order things in ‘meals’,” Robin says. “But people have a way of using every single thing they get. They love the canned pork. Some add it to the frozen meat we give out, to make it stretch, others use it for pork BBQ.”

The church is fortunate to have an ally in one of their parishioners, Lolly Lesher of Way-Har Farms (also a Helping Harvest Board member), who contributes two of the most popular items each month: milk and yogurt.

The week before Thanksgiving, even more shoppers were anticipated to attend the monthly pantry. The volunteers assembled a special additional bag of groceries to distribute for the holiday. “We put in everything they might need for a Thanksgiving dinner, except the turkey,” Robin explains. Among other items, each reusable bag contained: stuffing, cornbread mix, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, pie crust mix and pumpkin pie filling. Thanks to one parishioner (employed by Bell & Evans), there was also a chicken available for each family.

In addition to their bustling monthly food pantry, Zion houses an emergency food pantry for those whose need for food is urgent. The stockroom contains everything from toilet paper to pasta to frozen meat. “Everyone contributes. Bethel Elementary had a food drive and brought us about 400 pounds of donations! We try to keep a good system. That way, it’s easy for the church secretary to bring people in here when volunteers aren’t present.”

It would appear that Zion Blue Mountain UCC has its hands full serving their community, since the church is also a distribution center for Meals on Wheels. However, Robin speaks of doing even more. “I’d like to distribute the Senior Tote boxes here, if possible” she says. “Maybe in the New Year.”

Agency Feature: Zion Blue Mountain UCC Food Pantry

World Food Day Breakfast

On October 16, more than 200 supporters gathered at The Crowne Plaza in Wyomissing to join us for our 36th Annual World Food Day (WFD) Breakfast. This year’s Breakfast marked Peg Bianca’s last WFD address as executive director. It allowed Peg the opportunity to thank our network of partners and supporters for their decades of help and to wish all associated with Helping Harvest well in our continuing efforts to feed the hungry.

Peg’s successor, Jay Worrall, who will lead Helping Harvest as president, also had the opportunity to address the group and welcome the opportunity to work with all going forward.

This year, we proudly recognized our local Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) farmers for their support in helping to feed the hungry. PASS allows Pennsylvania’s farmers to donate safe, wholesome food products while being reimbursed for the costs involved in harvesting, processing, packaging and transporting these foods.

Pictured are representatives from: Weaver’s Orchards, I Hart Harvest (The Potato Project) and Allegheny Valley Dairy, who were among those acknowledged. Farming is not easy, and we are thankful for their dedication in providing fresh, nutritious food for all.

The Breakfast also provided Helping Harvest the chance to honor Peg’s decades of service by introducing a new annual award: the Peg Bianca Award for Employee Dedication. Luis Martinez, of our warehouse staff, was the inaugural recipient.

Thank you to all who attended the Breakfast and to the event’s Signature Sponsor, M&T Bank.

For many longtime volunteers at the Exeter Area Food Pantry, the clients they serve become good friends. There is a strong sense of community, as the volunteers here work with their clients individually.

Among those gathered on this particular Friday are Elizabeth and Connie. Regular clients of the Exeter Area Food Pantry, they were referred by Friends Community Services. They are mother and daughter, both on limited income. Elizabeth, the mother, is long retired, while Connie is on permanent disability because of severe back problems and carpal tunnel, both the result of years of manual labor. “We’ve been coming here for a few years now,” says Connie. “They’re always so nice and helpful.”

Elizabeth agrees. “I worked my whole life, since I was 13. I never depended on anybody for anything. But now, I don’t get much Social Security, and some of my

pills are expensive. It doesn’t leave me much, so I come here to the food pantry when they’re open. They are always welcoming and don’t make you feel bad about needing the help.”

As Elizabeth and Connie move through the line with their assigned volunteers they talk excitedly about the meals they can make with the ingredients offered. “If I could say one thing,” Connie says, “It would be to thank the food bank and these fine people right here. This has been such a blessing to me since I had to stop working.”

Helping Harvest is humbled to be able to help supply the Exeter Area Food Pantry and to serve people like Elizabeth and Connie. In the past year, Helping Harvest has supplied 125,000 pounds of food to the Exeter Area Food Pantry. Nearly 200 families are served at the pantry’s monthly distribution.

Faces of Hope: Elizabeth and Connie

If you made your way out Route 10 toward Trooper Thorn’s Irish Beef House on October 26, you might have noticed a large group of very determined bicyclers dressed in wacky Halloween costumes riding along the road. What you were witnessing was the Berks Area Mountain Biking Association’s Cranksgiving food drive.

This year, the Club hosted the sixth annual Cranksgiving food drive in which more than 70 participants rode miles to various grocery stores with a grocery list of Thanksgiving foods. The participants used their own money to purchase as much from the list as they liked, jumped on their bikes with their groceries, and rode to the next store.

All purchases were donated to Helping Harvest to help feed the hungry during the holidays. This year, more than 1,740 pounds of non-perishable foods were gathered in less than 4 hours—all on bicycle. In addition, 109 turkeys were collected, bringing the grand total to 3,534 pounds of donations for our neighbors in need – setting a new record for the event! Thank you to our friends at Berks Area Mountain Biking Association for planning this fun event and to the anonymous donor who contributed $500 worth of turkeys. We are grateful for your support in feeding the hungry in Berks and Schuylkill Counties.

6th Annual Cranksgiving

CROP Walk

Sunday, October 13, marked the 38th annual Reading-Berks CROP Walk, in which more than 30 local churches participated.

More than $30,000 was raised by the event’s 300+ participants, bringing the CROP Walk’s combined total through the years to nearly $1.1 million! Each year, 25% of the proceeds benefit Helping Harvest and the remaining 75% are donated to Church World Services for their international relief efforts.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Robesonia, won both the Golden Sneaker Award for the church with the most walkers (at 82!) and the Funky Flip Flop Award for the church with the most youth walkers (at 31). Congratulations!

Thanks to the West Berks Mission District for organizing the Walk as well as all of the volunteers and participants for making this a fun and successful event.

A “Giant” Turkey Donation

Thanks to the generous support of Giant Food Stores, many of our hungry neighbors didn’t need to worry where their Thanksgiving turkey was coming from. On November 5, we received a donation of 500 turkeys from Giant which helped make Thanksgiving dinner complete for many local families in need. In total, Giant donated 7,000 turkeys to 13 food banks throughout their service region. After presenting Helping Harvest with the turkeys, Giant employees stayed for an afternoon of volunteering in our warehouse. Warmest thanks to Giant for helping to make the holidays bright for our neighbors in need!

Y102 Thanksgiving Food Drive

Y102 (WRFY-FM) helped make the holidays a little happier for local families in need by holding their 21st annual on-air holiday food drive for Helping Harvest. Kenny and Andi, from Y102’s Morning Show, kicked off the live broadcast on Monday, November 25, from the Giant Food Store on Van Reed Road, West Lawn. Throughout the afternoon, additional on-air personalities from Y102 and sister station Rumba 92.3 helped keep the fun going and the donations coming in. In total, almost 1,000 pounds of food and nearly $700 were collected in just six hours time! Big thanks to Y102, Rumba 92.3 and all who donated!

Scouting for Food

This year marked the 33rd annual Scouting for Food event hosted by the Boy Scouts of America – Hawk Mountain Council. In early November, the Boy Scouts hung door hangers on the houses within our community inviting residents to leave non-perishable food items in a bag by their front door on Saturday, November 9. On that day, the Boy Scouts collected all donations and presented them to Helping Harvest.

We are so grateful to the Hawk Mountain Council for their amazing annual effort. This year, approximately 70,000 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected by the local troops and donated to Helping Harvest – the largest collection in many years! Thank you to the Boy Scouts and to all community members who helped make Scouting for Food a huge success.

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDReading, PAPermit No.14

Helping Harvest117 Morgan DriveReading, PA 19608

T: (610) 926-5802F: (610) 926-7638E: marketing@helpingharvest.org

HelpingHarvest.org

About Our Organization . . . Helping Harvest established in 1983, collects, purchases, stores, and distributes over seven million pounds of food annually to the more than 300 programs which feed the hungry in Berks & Schuylkill counties.

Helping Harvest117 Morgan DriveReading, PA 19608

Return Service Requested