The Peoples Bancorp Foundation, a non-profit corporation formed to make donations in Peoples Bank's market areas, has donated a total of $15,000 to community food banks and pantries in various counties throughout Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. In addition to the monetary donations, Peoples Bank associates and customers donated hundreds of food items through a system of donation boxes set up in each office.
"It is more important to work together to help put an end to hunger in our communities," said Chuck Sulerzyski, president and CEO of Peoples Bank. "These donations of food and money will help families have meals they otherwise wouldn't have and will hopefully raise awareness to this critical issue."
According to statistics from Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, nearly 50 million Americans needed assistance to pay for food in 2010. Of these nearly 50 million people, more than 16 million are children. Ohio was noted as having a 16% higher rate of hunger than the national average.
The Peoples Bancorp Foundation focuses its charitable giving in four major areas: community investment and economic development, youth and education, human services programs that improve the social needs of low-moderate income communities and individuals, and the arts and cultures. Peoples Bancorp Inc. and its banking subsidiary, Peoples Bank, provide funding for the Peoples Bancorp Foundation.
