COVID put a damper on gatherings in 2020 and everyone’s favorite annual meal packing event has been put on hold again in 2021, but it can’t stop United Way of Bucks County from filling our community food pantries!
First Bank Bucks Branches and their employees have been helping the United Way of Bucks County since 2015 through different programs – the Annual Bucks Knocks Out (BKO) Hunger meal packing events, food drives, Annual Breakfasts, and Operation Backpack to name a few.
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the number of people in Bucks County who are struggling financially. While some have recovered, many working families are still trying to rebuild. First Bank is here to help United Way of Bucks County’s Bucks Knocks Out (BKO) Hunger campaign with a food drive taking place in our 3 Bucks County branches!
BKO Hunger is community-driven, hunger-fighting project that unites thousands of donors, advocates, and volunteers to fight hunger in Bucks County. It is a fundraiser for Bucks County’s food pantries and a way to provide food relief to families struggling to get back on their feet.
Before COVID-19 hit, United Way of Bucks County’s popular annual BKO meal packing day gathered volunteers from all over the county to work together to package 100,000 shelf-stable meals for area food banks. Since gathering was not possible in 2020, the effort turned into a massive county-wide food and donation drive – Volunteers like First Bank employees helped to collect over 22,500 lbs of food for our communities! In 2021, First Bank will once again be collecting non-perishable food donations for BKO, with the hopes of helping to collect 30,000 lbs of food.
BKO also will raise funds to provide locally grown produce and fresh dairy products like milk, butter, and cheese – items that are not often donated to pantries. Their goal for 2021 is to raise $100,000 for food assistance in Bucks County. You can donate directly and learn more on United Way of Bucks County’s website.
First Bank is thrilled to assist the fight against hunger once again! You can drop off non-perishable food donations at our Bucks County Branches in Doylestown, Warminster, and Trevose during normal bank hours through Thursday, June 17th. Please check our Branch Locator for addresses and directions to those branches.