The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC) received donations from individuals, businesses and foundations to assist K-12 students in all Greene County schools.
A total of 12 organizations participated in donating–Waynesburg Lions Club, A.C.T.S. of Greene County, First Federal Savings and Loan Association, Community Bank, Greene County Association of School Retirees, FirstEnergy Foundation, Consol Cares Foundation, EQT Foundation, Essential Foundation (Peoples Gas), NiSource Foundation (Columbia Gas), DT Midstream, the William and Shirley Hanley Weekend Backpack Food Fund, Waynesburg University Bonner Scholars–as well as a few anonymous donors.
CFGC has been involved with the Weekend Backpack Food Program since the early 2010s. The program provides a bag of non-perishable food to school-aged children in need at each of the five Greene County School Districts, along with the Greene County Career and Technology Center.
Among those involved is Jim Elsenheimer, the Food Service Director for West Greene School District, who has been involved for 12 years helping those in need. “We do the best we can do to help people,” Elsenheimer said. “Child hunger is rampant in this country and the food programs are one way to address that. It’s great to know that we live in a county where businesses, churches, and the people know that they need to help one another,” Elsenheimer said.
West Greene has started a pantry program, which is something that Elsenheimer hopes other schools will implement.
“We realize that food insecurity issues don’t end when kids go from elementary to junior high,” Elsenheimer said. “We established a pantry program to help those older students that may have food insecurity issues at home. I would encourage other schools into doing that as well.”
To learn more about the Weekend Backpack Food Program, or how to make a potential tax exempt gift to the program, contact the Community Foundation by phone at 724-627-2010, email at cfgcpa@gmail.com or go to www.cfgcpa.org.
The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC), a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2000, is the central philanthropic vehicle in Greene County for donations of various types and sizes. CFGC currently manages over $8 million in assets through more than 100 different endowed and restricted funds.