UGI Energy Services donates $40,000 to food banks
Wyomissing-based UGI Energy Services will donate $40,000 to several food banks while working with them to establish virtual food drives, the company announced Friday.
The food drives are designed for UGI’s employees to make contributions to programs in areas where they live and where the company operates.
UGI Energy Services employs about 430 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York.
UGI Energy Services said it will contribute $10,000 to Helping Harvest, which serves Berks and Schuylkill counties; $7,500 to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank; $7,500 to the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank; $5,000 to the CEO/Weinberg Food Bank, which serves northeastern Pennsylvania; and $5,000 to Philabundance in Philadelphia.
“In addition to these programs, UGI Energy Services is working with our employees outside of Pennsylvania to assist food banks in their locales,” said Joseph Hartz, President of UGI Energy Services, in a news release. “In light of the great need that is being experienced right now as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, our employees wanted an opportunity to become involved in the effort to help. The food insecurity that already exists for millions of people in our operating footprint is being greatly added to with those disadvantaged by the physical and economic effects of the virus.”
This program is part of an initiative conducted by the family of companies that are part of UGI Corp. to provide support to the communities it serves.
Virtual food drives and donation programs have been established with Helping Harvest, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, the CEO/Weinberg Food Bank and Philabundance.
Jay Worrall, president of Helping Harvest, thanked UGI.
“With the help of corporate partners such as UGIES, “Worrall said in the news release. “Helping Harvest is able to keep up with the unprecedented demand on our services and ensure that families in our community continue to receive the food they so desperately need.”
Joe Arthur, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, saind the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve and grow.
“It is clearly having a financial impact on millions of Pennsylvanians. We are seeing increased demand on food banks,” Arthur said in the news release. “Partnerships like the one with UGI Energy Services and their employees will allow us to serve even more people in need in the coming weeks. We are grateful to the employees of UGI Energy Services for partnering with us on this virtual food drive. Life sustaining donations like the ones made through this virtual food drive will provide thousands of additional meals during this time. We are very grateful for UGI’s support.” The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves Adams, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga & Union Counties.
Food drives have always been a traditional way for community members to help our neighbors in need, said Philabundance Chief Development Officer Sara Hertz in the release.
“Hosting a virtual food drive allows people to give back while implementing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hertz said. “We appreciate UGI Energy Services and its employees for stepping up to fight hunger during this turbulent time.” Philabundance serves Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia in PA and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem in NJ Counties.
UGI Energy Services LLC markets natural gas, electricity and liquid fuels to commercial, institutional and industrial customers at approximately 43,000 locations in eleven eastern states and Washington, the company says. UGI Energy Services owns and operates natural gas midstream assets such as liquefied natural gas storage and vaporization, underground storage fields, gathering, intra- and interstate pipeline systems and compressor stations.