Chester County approves extension of state emergency food assistance grant

Chester County commissioners on Sept. 28 approved a contract extension from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to continue participation in the PFAP Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Pat Bakkowitz, director of the county Department of Human Services, told the board the department received the extension from the state on Sept. 16 and must return the signed document by Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. She said the program provides roughly "$500,000 to $550,000 annual amount," a portion of which is delivered in food and the remainder is passed to the Chester County Food Bank to purchase additional food.

The board moved and seconded approval and commissioners voiced "aye," adopting the extension by voice vote. Commissioners present are Commissioner Matt Josh Maxwell, Commissioner Marion Moskowitz and Commissioner Eric Rowe.

Bakkowitz framed the contract renewal as a routine but vital part of the county’s hunger-relief work. "This program is really important," she said, adding that the county acts largely as a conduit to the food bank. The signed extension will allow the county and the food bank to continue distributing food and food-purchasing funds through the upcoming contract year.

Next steps: staff must return the signed extension to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture by the stated deadline. The item was recorded on the meeting’s consent/new-business calendar and carried by unanimous vote.