America250PA Observes Its Sixth Annual Pennsylvania Day Initiative in Support of Feeding Pennsylvania and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful

Volunteer Efforts Help Nourish Communities and Beautify Local Spaces

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PENNSYLVANIA – The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) led its sixth annual Pennsylvania Day initiative on Monday, July 20, 2026, in support of Feeding Pennsylvania and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Recognized nationally on July 20, Pennsylvania Day is a moment to celebrate our shared roots—and America250PA has dedicated this occasion to the theme of “Pennsylvanians helping Pennsylvanians” through volunteerism across the Commonwealth.

“Pennsylvania Day reflects everything America250PA has worked toward over the last eight years—creating opportunities for every Pennsylvanian to celebrate in a way that feels personal, meaningful, and rooted in their own community,” said Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA. “For the last six Julys, we’ve seen neighbors show up for neighbors with generosity, compassion, and a shared commitment to leave their communities better than they found them. Each act of service may seem small on its own, but together they remind us of what Pennsylvanians can accomplish when we work toward a common purpose. Seeing that spirit take root across the Commonwealth is one of the most rewarding parts of this work and exactly the legacy we hoped the Semiquincentennial would inspire.”

This is the sixth year that America250PA has partnered with Feeding Pennsylvania to help address food insecurity across the Commonwealth. Volunteers lent a hand at food banks, pantries, and gardens—preparing meals for local families and supporting the vital work of local hunger relief organizations.

This year’s food bank effort is generously presented by The GIANT Company and Natural Food Group.

“Feeding Pennsylvania is excited to participate in the sixth annual state-wide volunteer initiative with America250PA and other partners,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania. She added, “We appreciate the extensive collaborative effort of National Pennsylvania Day, which helps support the volunteer services that food banks depend on to ensure nutritious food reaches Pennsylvanians facing hunger.”

“The GIANT Company is proud to partner with America250PA,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager of community relations, The GIANT Company. “Together, we’re recognizing our shared history while helping build a stronger future through service, partnership and a continued commitment to the communities we proudly serve across Pennsylvania. We’re grateful to everyone who volunteered their time and talents on Pennsylvania Day and all year long to help make a positive impact across the Commonwealth.”

“Natural Food Group values its partnership with America250PA and encourages everyone to honor the spirit of America by helping their neighbors and celebrating acts of kindness,” said Murat Guzel, CEO of Natural Food Group.

In addition to its work with Feeding Pennsylvania, America250PA partnered once again with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to support community cleanups and revitalization projects across the Commonwealth. With generous support from the EQT Foundation and in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, America250PA awarded $32,500 in grants to fund seven volunteer-driven projects focused on strengthening local communities.

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is proud to support the America250PA partners and their projects as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Over the past four years, our partnership with [America250PA] has been instrumental in driving community improvements across Pennsylvania. We recognize that efforts such as litter cleanups, beautification, planting community gardens, and enhancing playgrounds contribute to thriving, vibrant communities,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are honored to provide National Pennsylvania Day grants, with the support of America250PA, to continue investing in the vital work that strengthens and enriches communities and public spaces throughout the state.”

“At EQT, we believe strong communities are built when people come together to serve one another,” said Ellen Rossi, President of the EQT Foundation. “Pennsylvania Day is a powerful reminder that our Commonwealth’s greatest strength has always been its people, and we’re proud to partner with America250PA in supporting volunteerism and community projects that create lasting impact where we live and work.”

The 2026 Pennsylvania Day initiative reached communities across the Commonwealth, with volunteer projects taking place in Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Cambria, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Erie, Indiana, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Wayne, Westmoreland, and York Counties.

In 2026, America250PA—together with Feeding Pennsylvania and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful—mobilized more than 530 volunteers across the Commonwealth to support a wide range of impactful community projects:

At our Feeding Pennsylvania sites, our volunteers…

Processed more than 90,000 pounds of food products
Processed over 4,900 pounds of produce and 600 ears of corn
Packaged more than 6,800 food boxes including the following:
- 600 food boxes for veterans
- 650 meal boxes
- 380 fresh meal bundles for children
- 230 boxes of beverages
- 226 emergency bags and boxes
Harvested 200 pounds of produce
Served 125 freshly-prepared meals
Planted 3,000 produce seeds

At our Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful sites, our volunteers…

Weeded 2,500 ft of garden bed
Installed more than 150 ft of fencing
Collected over 68 bags of yard waste
Painted the Lodge at Lacawac Sanctuary
Completed a community mural with 50 mosaic tiles
Beautified outdoor community spaces by clearing overgrowth, removing graffiti, creating new engagement areas, planting flowers, etc.
Identified and documented previously undiscovered archaeological artifacts

America250PA was honored to be joined by public officials and government partners from across the Commonwealth in celebration of Pennsylvania Day 2026. Volunteer participants included the Offices of U.S. Senator John Fetterman, U.S. Congressman Mike Kelly, U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, U.S. Congressman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson; Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor; Pennsylvania State Senators Patty Kim, Nick Miller, Kristin Phillips-Hill, Steve Santarsiero, Nikil Saval, Judy Schwank, and the Offices of Pennsylvania State Senators Maria Collett, Carolyn Comitta, Jay Costa, Lynda Schlegel Culver, Cris Dush, Dan Laughlin, Scott Martin, Joe Pittman, and Gene Yaw; and Pennsylvania State Representatives Morgan Cephas, Joe D’Orsie, Wendy Fink, Justin Fleming, Doyle Heffley, Carol Hill-Evans, Kristin Marcell, Jennifer Mazzocco, Eddie Day Pashinski, Steve Samuelson, Christina Sappey, and the Offices of Pennsylvania State Representatives Jamie Barton, Tim Brennan, Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, Jill Cooper, Nate Davidson, Jamie Flick, Dan Frankel, Valerie Gaydos, Nancy Guenst, Kristine Howard, Kate Klunk, Roman Kozak, Steve Malagari, Brenda Pugh, Jacklyn Rusnock, Alec Ryncavage, Abigail Salisbury, James B. Struzzi, Eric Weaknecht and Parke Wentling.

Additional volunteer support came from county and local officials including County Commissioners Scott Burford of York County, Ann Coleman of Mercer County, Darlene Fenton of Sullivan County, Ted Kopas of Westmoreland County, Mark Mussina and Marc Sortman of Lycoming County, David Parker of Monroe County, Dante Santoni, Jr., of Berks County; Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein; and representatives from the Chester County Commissioners Office, the County of Beaver, the County of Wayne, the County of York, the Greensburg City Council, the Stroudsburg Borough Council, and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Police provided volunteer support at multiple sites across the state.

America250PA also received volunteer support from dozens of civic organizations, nonprofit partners, and Pennsylvania-based businesses, including Daughters of the American Revolution, EQT Corporation, ESSA Bank, Feeding Pennsylvania, Friends of the Rail Park, Friends of Washington Crossing Park, Geisinger, Glade Run Afterschool/Summer Program, JBC Associates, Inc., Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Knox Law, Lacawac Sanctuary, Leighton Downtown Initiative, Martin’s, Mid-Atlantic Regional Cooperative, Miss Berks County’s Teen Leighton Matlack, Miss Moraine State 2026 Camryn Sacco, Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen 2026 Anna Rinnier, PPL Electric Utilities, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Red Rock Job Corps, The GIANT Company, UGI Utilities, USOA Mrs. Philadelphia Monique Curry-Mims, Visit Bucks County, VisitErie, VisitPITTSBURGH, WVIA, and more.

These highlights reflect just a portion of the incredible work accomplished across the Commonwealth. America250PA is deeply grateful to every volunteer, partner, and public servant who gave their time and tackled every task with care and commitment.

Learn more about America250PA and Pennsylvania Day at america250pa.org/PPE:_PA_Day

###