NAZARETH, Pa. – For years, the Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse has served as a vital hub for packing and distributing food to local pantries, helping to combat hunger and support those in need.
But tonight, that same warehouse was transformed to host the Annual Community Harvest Gala, aimed at connecting supporters more directly to the organization’s mission.
Sandra Bieber, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Community Action Lehigh Valley, explained the decision to host the event in the warehouse.
“We wanted to bring people to the heart of the warehouse to get them here to feel the energy, to feel what we do and our team does every single day,” Bieber said.
This year’s gala theme, “Packed with Purpose,” focused on raising funds to provide nutritious food to neighbors in the region.
Sarah Wessel, Associate Executive Director for Second Harvest, emphasized the importance of the food bank to the communities it serves. She also highlighted that Second Harvest distributes food to more than 200 partner agencies across the region.
“It feeds my soul. It is truly heartwarming to be able to help my neighbors in need,” Wessel said.
Just like Saturday’s successful Food Truck Food Drive, tonight’s event in the warehouse was a success.
According to Bieber, supporters raised more than $40,000 to help fight hunger in the region.