Hunger Action Month: How UGI Supports Food Security

September is Hunger Action Month, which is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger in America and inspire action. Everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, and in every community in Pennsylvania, people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet 1 in 8 people in Pennsylvania face hunger, according to Feeding Pennsylvania.

UGI Utilities is dedicated to supporting food security to create safe and sustainable communities. In 2023, our employees spent 250 hours supporting food security in the communities we serve. From packing food bags for local students to distributing food boxes to veterans and seniors, our employees are dedicated to fighting hunger for our neighbors.

Employees recently participated in a food packing effort at the Weinberg Food Bank in Pittston to prepare food boxes for older adults in Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, and Susquehanna counties. The Weinberg Food Bank prepares over 4,000 food boxes a month for distribution to 400 partner agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, backpack programs, fresh produce markets, and more.

“I felt accomplished and proud leaving the event today knowing that my efforts will help over 250 people with the food boxes,” says UGI volunteer Amanda M.

In support of military families, UGI Utilities employees recently donated their time to Battle Borne’s Military Share Food Distribution program in Allentown. Battle Borne focuses on supporting veterans and their families through building social connection, strengthening community, facilitating mental health services, and supporting overall veterans’ wellness.

Volunteers unpacked a delivery from Second Harvest of the Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and created food packages filled with milk, meat, eggs, dry goods and fresh produce. The volunteers then helped to load the packages into vehicles for 66 families and cleaned up at the end of the day.

A group of UGI employees also volunteered at Power Packs Project in Lancaster earlier this year to support local students and their families. Power Packs is dedicated to ending hunger for students over the weekend, when free school breakfasts and lunches aren’t available. Power Packs are distributed weekly to students in Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties and include a fresh recipe with all the ingredients to make that meal, pantry staples, and fresh local milk and produce.

The volunteers packed boxes for food distribution, prepared milk bags for delivery to site locations, staged boxes for the next distribution, and created spice packets.

“I believe in the mission and vision of Power Packs. No child should go hungry. To have a volunteer organization that helps close gaps for families facing food insecurities is inspiring and to support in a small way their large efforts is rewarding,” says UGI volunteer Lourdes C.

In addition to volunteerism, UGI employees also generously donated food items to a company-wide food drive in April that supported 28 food security organizations across our service territory.

UGI Utilities is proud to partner with food security organizations to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.

Follow UGI Utilities on Facebook (@UGIUtilities), Twitter (@UGI_Utilities) and Instagram (@ugiutilities) or visit https://www.ugi.com/community-programs to learn more about how UGI supports the community.