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America250PA observes its fifth annual Pennsylvania Day Initiative in support of Feeding Pennsylvania and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful

Volunteer Efforts Help Nourish Communities and Beautify Local Spaces

PENNSYLVANIA (June 25, 2025) – The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) marked its fifth annual Pennsylvania Day initiative on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19, 2025, 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. This year, activities took place over the course of two days.

“Pennsylvania Day honors our shared legacy as a Commonwealth built on service, community, and faith in one another,” said Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA. “This year’s projects reflect the best of who we are-compassionate, rooted in history, and proud to welcome the nation in 2026. Every July, we see neighbors step up with open hands and full hearts. That spirit is what carried us through the last 250 years, and it’s what will carry to the Semiquincentennial and beyond.”

This is the fifth 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 Natural Food Group and The GIANT Company.

“Feeding Pennsylvania is excited to participate in the fifth 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 was happy to again celebrate Pennsylvania Day with America250PA,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager of community relations and strategic partnerships. “We’ve proudly been a part of communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for more than 100 years, and we applaud and appreciate everyone who volunteered – together is the best way to make a difference!”

“Natural Food Groups values their partnership with America250PA to improve our community and engage volunteers in a statewide effort to fight hunger and honor the spirit of giving in America,” 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-efforts aimed at preparing for the influx of visitors expected in 2026. With generous support from EQT Corporation and in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, America250PA awarded more than $25,000 in grants to fund nine volunteer-driven projects focused on strengthening local communities.

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is proud to support the [America250PA] partners and their projects. We know that community improvements, whether through litter cleanups, beautification, planting community gardens or improving playgrounds leads to thriving communities,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are honored to provide National Pennsylvania Day grants, with support of America250PA, to invest in the noble and necessary work being implemented to improve communities and public spaces across the state.”

“EQT and the EQT Foundation are excited to partner with America250PA to help showcase the spirit of volunteerism in communities across Pennsylvania,” said Ellen Rossi, President of the EQT Foundation. “Over the next several years we are eager to see our beautification efforts increase the viability of rural and urban communities across the state, as well as become more deeply engaged with our neighbors.”

The 2025 Pennsylvania Day initiative reached communities across the Commonwealth, with volunteer projects taking place in Adams, Allegheny, Centre, Dauphin, Elk, Erie, Lawrence, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Westmoreland, and York counties.

In 2025, America250PA-together with Feeding Pennsylvania and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful-mobilized more than 385 volunteers across the Commonwealth to support a wide range of impactful community projects:

  • More than 3,700 food boxes were packed and distributed for seniors, veterans, and families in need.
  • Volunteers sorted and stocked over 32,000 pounds of food, including non-perishables, refrigerated goods, beverages, and fresh produce.
  • More than 400 meals reached neighbors experiencing food insecurity, through both on-site service and direct community distribution.
  • Community garden projects produced nearly 500 pounds of fresh vegetables and herbs and cleared 800 pounds of weeds, supporting local food access and sustainability.
  • Public spaces were revitalized with the installation of 2 new benches, construction of 3 flower beds, and planting of more than 40 flowers and shrubs.
  • Parks and playgrounds were improved with nearly 500 cubic feet of rubber mulch spread, more than 300 bricks laid, a new public mural painted, and three picnic tables restored.
  • Volunteers restored historic sites by repainting doors, fences, and shutters; cleaning more than 500 historic graves; uncovering 41 previously obscured graves-including that of Rev. Josiah Smith; removing overgrown trees and brush; and rehabilitating flagstone paths, bell towers, and entryways.

America250PA was honored to be joined by public officials and government partners from across the Commonwealth in celebration of Pennsylvania Day 2025. Volunteer participants included Secretary of Human Services Valerie Arkoosh; Senators Chris Gebhard, Scott Hutchinson, and the Office of Senator Gene Yaw; staff from the Pennsylvania State Senate; and Representatives Marla Brown, Russ Diamond, Ann Flood, Justin Fleming, Tim Twardzik, Lindsay Powell, and the Offices of Representatives Morgan Cephas, Milou Mackenzie, and Zach Mako. Additional support came from county and local officials including Commissioners Sean Kertes of Westmoreland County; Scott Metzger, Marc Sortman, and Mark Mussina of Lycoming County; Ann Coleman and Bill Finley of Mercer County; Amanda Maholtz, Vice Chair Supervisor of Benezette Township; and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, as well as representatives from Exeter Borough and the Bethel Township Park & Recreation Board. The Pennsylvania State Police provided volunteer support at multiple sites across the state.

America250PA also received generous support from dozens of civic organizations, nonprofit partners, and Pennsylvania-based businesses, including America250PA Westmoreland County, the Daughters of the American Revolution, EQT Corporation, Feeding Pennsylvania, FirstEnergy, Forward Lawrence, FS Investments, The GIANT Company, Highmark, Historic Trappe, Jefferson Educational Society, Main Street Gettysburg, Miss Greater Reading 2025 Juliana Denick, Miss Lebanon County 2025 Kristen Griffiths, Miss Pennsylvania 2025 Victoria Vespico, Miss Pennsylvania for America Strong 2025 Desiree Brown, Montour County Historical Society, Natural Food Group, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, PSECU, Team Rubicon, and Wells Fargo.

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.

For site-specific photos or additional media inquiries, please contact Matt Darragh at Matt@America250PA.org.

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About America250PA
The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) was established by the General Assembly and Governor in 2018 to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvania’s integral role in that event, and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future. The Commission is made up of current and past Pennsylvania leaders, celebrating the rich history and diversity of the state.

America250PA hopes to engage all citizens of the Commonwealth, from each of its 67 counties, to participate in creating a statewide celebration and bringing the Commonwealth’s history into the conversation. That shared history gives us the foundation to better understand the origins and diverse viewpoints on the challenges affecting both our Commonwealth and our nation. The Commission’s ability to communicate its vision, engage various audiences, and encourage inclusive and cohesive participation is key to a successful America250PA. The visionary framework – especially our E.P.I.C. themes of Educate, Preserve, Innovate, and Celebrate, contains the essential messaging to bring the Semiquincentennial to life across the Commonwealth.

About Feeding Pennsylvania
Feeding Pennsylvania is the state association of Pennsylvania’s nine Feeding America partner food banks. Collective efforts support member food banks in securing food and other resources to alleviate hunger and food insecurity in communities across Pennsylvania and provide a unified voice on the issues of anti-hunger policy. Feeding Pennsylvania member food banks serve over 1.5 million people annually by distributing more than 237 million pounds of food through a network of more than 2,700 agencies.

About Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s vision is a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Since 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has worked with hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the state to pick up nearly 158 million pounds of trash from Pennsylvania’s roadways, waterways, greenways, vacant lots, forestlands and other community spaces. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s core programming focuses on litter and illegal dump prevention, cleanup, community greening, and proper waste handling and sustainable practices. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful works with many partnering organizations on the state and grassroots level to accomplish our goal of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is the state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. To learn more about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org.