FirstEnergy Foundation Grants Expected to Help Provide 3.6 Million Meals Across Pennsylvania
FirstEnergy Foundation is awarding $1.2 million in grants in Pennsylvania as part of a broader $5 million hunger-relief initiative.
Rhea-AI Summary
FirstEnergy (FE), through the FirstEnergy Foundation, is committing $1.2 million during Hunger Action Month to support 37 Pennsylvania food banks and pantries in the FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company service area. The grants are expected to help provide more than 3.6 million meals to families facing food insecurity.
The Pennsylvania funding includes a $250,000 donation to Feeding Pennsylvania and a $50,000 grant to Westmoreland Food Bank, among other recipients, including six first-time grantees. These grants form part of a broader $5 million initiative aiding 140 hunger-relief organizations across FirstEnergy's six-state territory and the District of Columbia.
FirstEnergy employees also contributed about 28,500 volunteer hours in 2025 across the service area, valued at over $1 million based on the 2025 national volunteer hour rate, with thousands of hours supporting hunger-relief efforts.
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The funding is expected to provide more than 3.6 million meals for families in communities served by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA) – a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) company known locally as Penn Power, Penelec, Met-Ed or West Penn Power.
John Hawkins, President, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania: "Food insecurity remains a significant challenge in many of the communities we serve. Too many individuals and families across FirstEnergy Pennsylvania's service territory continue to face challenges putting food on the table. Through the FirstEnergy Foundation, we are proud to support 37 community partners working every day to help our neighbors. Their dedication and support reminds us of the good we can accomplish when communities come together to help those in need and care for one another."
To kick off Hunger Action Month, FE PA employees volunteered at the Westmoreland Food Bank, helping prepare and distribute food for local families facing food insecurity. This volunteer event is one of six events FE PA employees will participate in during the month of September.
During the volunteer event, FE PA leadership presented a
Lauren Duff, Chief Public Affairs Officer, Feeding Pennsylvania: "The FirstEnergy Foundation's generous investment comes at a critical time for food banks across
Despite ongoing efforts by food banks and nonprofit organizations, food insecurity remains a significant challenge across the country and in
Jennifer Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Westmoreland Food Bank: "FirstEnergy continues to support the Westmoreland Food Bank's day-to-day mission and long-term goals. Employee volunteerism assists our community food pantries and monetary support keeps food on our shelves, ultimately putting meals on the plates of our neighbors facing hunger. We are truly partners in this work—we are so grateful."
Supporting Hunger-Relief Organizations Across Pennsylvania
This year, the Foundation is supporting six first-time grant recipients while increasing investments in several of
Foodbanks receiving grants include:
Altoona /Blair County Food Bank (Altoona ,Blair County )- Armstrong County Community Action Agency (
Kittanning ,Armstrong County ) - Boyertown Area Multi-Service (
Boyertown ,Berks County ) - Brookville Area Food Pantry (
Brookville ,Jefferson County ) - Bushkill Outreach Program (
Bushkill ,Pike County ; first-time recipient) - Center for Community Action (
Everett ,Bedford County ) - Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (
Harrisburg ,Dauphin County ) - Commission on Economic Opportunity, Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank (
Tunkhannock ,Wyoming County ) - Child Hunger Outreach Partners (
Towanda ,Bradford County ) - Community Food Warehouse of
Mercer County (Sharon ,Mercer County ; first-time recipient) - Community Foundation of
Greene County (Waynesburg ,Greene County ) - Corner Cupboard Food Bank (
Waynesboro ,Greene County ) - Ecumenical Food Pantry of
Pike County (Milford ,Pike County ; first-time recipient) - Fayette County Community Action Agency Food Bank (
Uniontown ,Fayette County ) - Feeding
Pennsylvania (Lemoyne ,Cumberland County ) - Feeding the Flock Ministries (
Cheswick ,Allegheny County ) - Fulton County Medical Center Food Bank (
McConnellsburg ,Fulton County ) - Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (
Duquesne ,Allegheny County ) - Helping Harvest (
Reading ,Berks County ) - Hispanic Coalition Lehigh Valley (
Bethlehem ,Lehigh County ; first-time recipient) - Knoxville Food Pantry (
Knoxville ,Tioga County ) - Lebanon County Christian Ministries (
Lebanon ,Lebanon County ) - New Hope Ministries (
Dillsburg ,York County ) - New Journey Community Outreach (
Reading ,Berks County ) - Project Share of
Carlisle (Carlisle ,Cumberland County ) - Salvation Army East Stroudsburg (
East Stroudsburg ,Monroe County ; first-time recipient) - Salvation Army Jeannette (
Jeannette ,Westmoreland County ) - Salvation Army of
Huntingdon (Huntingdon , Huntington County) - Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest PA (
Erie ,Erie County ) - Second Harvest Food Bank of the
Lehigh Valley and Northeast PA (Nazareth ,Northampton County ) - Shippensburg Produce and Outreach (
Shippensburg ,Cumberland County ) - Somerset County Mobile Food Bank (
Somerset ,Somerset County ) - State College Food Bank (
State College ,Centre County ) - State College Meals on Wheels (
State College ,Centre County ; first-time recipient) Waynesboro Community and Human Services (Waynesboro ,Franklin County )- Westmoreland Food Bank (
Delmont ,Westmoreland County ) - York County Food Bank (
York ,York County )
The
Employee Volunteers Help Food Banks Stretch Resources
In addition to financial support, FirstEnergy employees regularly volunteer with food banks, pantries and other nonprofit organizations across
In 2025, employees contributed approximately 28,500 volunteer hours across FirstEnergy's service territory, including thousands of hours supporting hunger-relief organizations. Based on the 2025 national value of a volunteer hour of
Media Resources
Photos and videos from Hunger Action Month grant presentations, volunteer events and community partnerships will be added throughout September and made available on Flickr.
About FirstEnergy Foundation
The FirstEnergy Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations across FirstEnergy's operational area, helping them build capacity, strengthen outcomes and deliver lasting impact. Giving priorities include housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM initiatives that reflect community needs and the company's strategic focus. Combined with the Hunger Action Month grants, the Foundation has distributed nearly
About FirstEnergy
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
FAQ
How much is the FirstEnergy Foundation donating to fight hunger in Pennsylvania in 2026 (FE)?
The FirstEnergy Foundation is awarding $1.2 million to 37 food banks and pantries across Pennsylvania during Hunger Action Month. The funding targets communities served by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company and is expected to help provide more than 3.6 million meals.
How many meals are expected from the FirstEnergy Foundation’s Pennsylvania hunger-relief grants for FE communities?
The Pennsylvania grants from the FirstEnergy Foundation are expected to help provide more than 3.6 million meals. These meals will support families in the service territory of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, which includes Penn Power, Penelec, Met-Ed and West Penn Power.
Which organizations received major hunger-relief grants from FirstEnergy Foundation tied to FE in Pennsylvania?
Within the $1.2 million Pennsylvania package, Feeding Pennsylvania received a $250,000 donation and Westmoreland Food Bank received a $50,000 grant. In total, 37 food banks, pantries and hunger-relief partners across the state were awarded funding.
How does the Pennsylvania hunger-relief funding fit into FirstEnergy’s broader FE initiative?
The Pennsylvania grants are part of a broader $5 million FirstEnergy Foundation initiative. This larger effort supports 140 hunger-relief organizations across FirstEnergy’s six-state service territory and the District of Columbia, helping stock food shelves and keep meals on tables.
What role do FirstEnergy (FE) employees play in supporting hunger-relief organizations?
FirstEnergy employees support hunger-relief groups through the company’s Volunteer Time Off program. In 2025, they contributed about 28,500 volunteer hours across the service territory. Using a $36.14 hourly value, this represents over $1 million in additional community support.
How many first-time hunger-relief grant recipients are included in FirstEnergy Foundation’s Pennsylvania awards (FE)?
The 2026 Pennsylvania hunger-relief funding from the FirstEnergy Foundation includes six first-time grant recipients. These new grantees are among the 37 food banks, pantries and related organizations receiving support across the state.