Canonsburg
Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania Association Of Regional Food Banks
About Us
PARF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is (1) to provide a mechanism for communication among the members in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; (2) to assist the members in acquisition of food; (3) to inform the members about legislation that impacts on hunger programs and to suggest appropriate action; (4) to develop public awareness about hunger issues and the role of the members in combating hunger; and (5) to articulate hunger issues to local, state and federal levels of government.
The Pennsylvania Association of Regional Food Banks, Inc. (PARF) has been addressing hunger issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 24 years. PARF is a membership organization comprised of food banks across the region. In January 2001, a two-day retreat was held to determine the direction of the organization. The primary goal identified was to strengthen private/public food assistance through support to local agencies, playing an increased role in facilitating public food assistance programs for clients, working cooperatively in advocating for public food safety net improvements. In order to accomplish this goal, it was determined that a paid staff person be hired. In October 2001, the first Executive Director of PARF was hired.
In 2002, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requested PARF administer the Federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for Pennsylvania. The program began with a caseload of 5,000 serving five counties. In 2003, the CSFP was expanded to 15,120 caseload serving 27 counties. Continued expansion has been limited due to the availability of federal funding, however, there are currently 40 counties and 10,000 seniors on a recipient waiting list. Although CSFP did not expand, it became evident to the membership that a second staff person was needed due to the increased administrative demands of CSFP and the need for additional work to be completed in order to accomplish the aggressive goal. In April 2004, a second full-time person, an
Assistant Director, was hired to assist in PARF's activities.
PARF currently has 2 full time employees with no current plans to increase staff.
PARF membership currently consists of 20 Regional Food Bank & Community Action Agencies located across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Each PARF member represents numerous member agencies, total numbering in the thousands. All these entities are affected in some way by PARF decisions and operations.
PARF is involved in Advocacy throughout Pennsylvania and in Washington DC.
At the request of the PA Department of Agriculture (PDA), PARF administers the Commodity Supplemental Food Program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PDA has also requested that PARF administer a new assistance program in the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS).
PARF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is (1) to provide a mechanism for communication among the members in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; (2) to assist the members in acquisition of food; (3) to inform the members about legislation that impacts on hunger programs and to suggest appropriate action; (4) to develop public awareness about hunger issues and the role of the members in combating hunger; and (5) to articulate hunger issues to local, state and federal levels of government.
The Pennsylvania Association of Regional Food Banks, Inc. (PARF) has been addressing hunger issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 24 years. PARF is a membership organization comprised of food banks across the region. In January 2001, a two-day retreat was held to determine the direction of the organization. The primary goal identified was to strengthen private/public food assistance through support to local agencies, playing an increased role in facilitating public food assistance programs for clients, working cooperatively in advocating for public food safety net improvements. In order to accomplish this goal, it was determined that a paid staff person be hired. In October 2001, the first Executive Director of PARF was hired.
In 2002, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requested PARF administer the Federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for Pennsylvania. The program began with a caseload of 5,000 serving five counties. In 2003, the CSFP was expanded to 15,120 caseload serving 27 counties. Continued expansion has been limited due to the availability of federal funding, however, there are currently 40 counties and 10,000 seniors on a recipient waiting list. Although CSFP did not expand, it became evident to the membership that a second staff person was needed due to the increased administrative demands of CSFP and the need for additional work to be completed in order to accomplish the aggressive goal. In April 2004, a second full-time person, an
Assistant Director, was hired to assist in PARF's activities.
PARF currently has 2 full time employees with no current plans to increase staff.
PARF membership currently consists of 20 Regional Food Bank & Community Action Agencies located across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Each PARF member represents numerous member agencies, total numbering in the thousands. All these entities are affected in some way by PARF decisions and operations.
PARF is involved in Advocacy throughout Pennsylvania and in Washington DC.
At the request of the PA Department of Agriculture (PDA), PARF administers the Commodity Supplemental Food Program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PDA has also requested that PARF administer a new assistance program in the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS).