$15,000 grant to fund the BackPack Program to help feed 1,500 students in the region
Oak Ridge, N.J. – Jan. 10, 2020 – Lakeland Bank recently awarded a $15,000 Community Impact Grant to the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley to help fund the non-profit’s BackPack Program.
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley uses the BackPack Program to help alleviate child hunger by discreetly providing hungry children with backpacks full of nutritious and easy-to-prepare food on Friday afternoons so they have food to eat throughout the weekend. Students participating in a free or reduced breakfast or lunch program have access to nutritional benefits during the school day, but many disadvantaged children do not receive regular meals when school is not in session. The BackPack Program serves over 1,500 students in 47 schools across four New York counties.
“Lakeland Bank’s Community Impact Grant was designed to support solutions that improve the quality of life in a community and the BackPack Program is a great example of how we can make a difference for the underserved in our local neighborhoods,” said Thomas Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank. “The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley has been an indispensable partner to many people in the region and the work they do is critically important to alleviating hunger.”
“We are so grateful to everyone at Lakeland Bank for their support of our BackPack Program through the Community Impact Grant,” said Paul A. Stermer, Director, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. “This program helps feed more than 1,500 schoolchildren throughout the region who don’t always have food at home. Your generous grant will make a big difference in the lives of each one of these kids. Thank you for your kindness!”
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley is a branch of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and a member of Feeding America, the national food bank network. Food banks acquire large donations of edible, but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley supplies food to such nonprofit organizations as food pantries, senior centers, shelters, after-school programs, soup kitchens, low-income day care centers, and others--turning food into nutritious, balanced meals for thousands of men, women, and children who otherwise would not get enough to eat. To learn more, visit the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.
Caption: Lakeland Bank colleague John Rath, EVP, Chief Lending Officer, (left) presents a $15,000 grant to Paul A. Stermer, Director, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley to provide funding for the BackPack Program.
About Lakeland Bank’s Grant Program
The program is non-competitive with no public solicitations for applications. Prospective recipients and their programs are nominated for consideration for a grant based upon an internal nomination process designed specifically for this program. Eligible organizations that provide the following services within the Bank’s assessment areas will be considered:
- Financial independence
- Homelessness solutions and affordable housing programs
- Education programs offering financial skill sets
- Youth programs and services including childcare and afterschool programs
- Emergency services including food, shelter and clothing
- Health and well-being services
About Lakeland Bank
Lakeland Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:LBAI), which has over $6 billion in total assets. With an extensive branch network and commercial lending centers throughout New Jersey and Highland Mills, N.Y., the Bank offers business and retail banking products and services. Business services include commercial loans and lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, loans for healthcare services, asset based lending, equipment financing, small business loans and lines, and cash management services. Consumer services include online and mobile banking, home equity loans and lines, mortgage options and wealth management solutions. Lakeland is proud to be recognized as New Jersey’s #1 Best-In-State Banks by Forbes and Statista, rated a 5-Star Bank by Bauer Financial and named one of New Jersey’s 50 Fastest Growing Companies by NJBIZ. Visit LakelandBank.com for more information.