KeyBank Foundation Grants $400,000 for Food Equity in Bucks County

Doylestown, PA — The Bucks County Opportunity Council Inc. (BCOC) has secured a $400,000 Community Impact Grant from KeyBank Foundation to enhance food resources and health equity in Bucks County. The grant will enable BCOC to expand its food distribution sites, foster community collaboration to combat food insecurity, and implement nutrition education programs.

“KeyBank has been a long-time supporter and partner of BCOC, helping to reduce poverty in our community,” said Erin Lukoss, executive director of BCOC. “Increasing access to food resources and improving health equity are two strategic priorities for BCOC. This generous grant from the KeyBank Foundation will greatly affect our ability to meet the increased need and grow our programming for greater impact.”

Bucks County faces critical challenges related to food insecurity and health disparities. Statistics from Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” report indicate a food insecurity rate of approximately 6.6%, affecting more than 42,000 residents, including an estimated 12,690 children. Alarmingly, nearly half of these individuals may not qualify for government assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to income thresholds.

As the lead food agency for families in need, BCOC operates a network of over 75 providers focused on meeting the nutritional needs of low-income households. “KeyBank joins BCOC in the belief that all residents deserve access to healthy, nutritious, and affordable food,” said Youseff Tannous, KeyBank’s Eastern Pennsylvania Market President and Market Retail Leader. “We are proud to provide BCOC with financial resources to help address food insecurity and improve health equity for our neighbors.”

This grant from KeyBank is part of the bank’s broader $40 billion community investment plan aimed at enhancing economic access and equity across various sectors, including affordable housing, small business lending, and transformative philanthropy.

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