PenFed Supports Capital Area Food Bank With $5K Donation

TYSONS, VA — As the Capital Area Food Bank grapples with increased demand for food resources during the pandemic, PenFed Credit Union is helping through fundraising and packaging donations.

DC area employees at the Tysons-based credit union raised $2,500 in contributions for the food bank. PenFed matched that total, bringing the total donation to $5,000.

Employees also volunteered to package boxes of donations at the food bank and provided non-perishable foods. There were 13 employees and their immediate families who sorted donations at Capital Area Food Bank's warehouse in DC.

The fundraising effort followed news that Capital Area Food Bank's donations dropped since the pandemic started.

"When PenFed learned the Capital Area Food Bank experienced a 70 percent reduction in donations since the beginning of the pandemic, we knew our employees would step up to help," said James Schenck, PenFed Credit Union's president and CEO, and PenFed Foundation CEO. "The credit union motto is ‘people helping people’ and we are proud to support our Greater Washington area community where many of our members and employees live and work."

Capital Area Food Bank provides food to communities in Virginia, DC and Maryland in coordination with more than 450 nonprofit partners. The food bank estimates one in 10 DC metro region residents is food insecure, and about a third of them are children.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.