To aid the Chester County Food Bank, Bentley Systems challenged local businesses, groups, individuals, and organizations to step up and join the effort to help those in Chester County struggling with food insecurity by pledging $200,000 to match donations starting Oct. 24, 2022, to the “Meet the Need” Matching Gift Challenge.

The challenge was met at the end of November, resulting in a total of $400,152 generated to support providing nutritious food to those in need — especially at a time when the demand has increased by more than 30 percent, yet food and financial donations have decreased by more than 25 percent. 

“Food purchases to support our Thanksgiving distributions were over $400,000, a 38 percent increase over last year. In addition, due to supply chain issues, our turkey order was unable to be fulfilled, and we had to modify our procurement strategy and purchase chickens,” said Andrea Youndt, CEO of the Chester County Food Bank.

“The Bentley Systems community match challenge will help to cover these costs. Our impact has never been greater, and it is the direct result of the generosity of donors like Bentley Systems,” continued Youndt. “On behalf of the Chester County Food Bank and all those we serve, thank you. We are rooted in our commitment, and together we will face the challenges and rise strong.” 

The grant matched dollar-for-dollar over 450 contributions from a myriad of funders – from individual donors to a pottery collective and Giving Tuesday donors to fellow corporate partners such as QVC which was the first corporate donation to rise to the challenge with a $50,000 donation.

Additional corporate partners contributing to “Meet the Need” include: 

• ACA Paper Restoration 
• Agile Motion Fitness 
• Ahmad Zaffarese LLC 
• Barley Snyder 
• Bewley Irish Imports 
• Carroll Engineering Corporation 
• Citadel Credit Union 
• Delphi Wealth Management Group, LLC 
• Gbuild Construction Managers 
• High Point Finacial / Bryan Benner 
• Let’s Bake the World a Better Place 
• Lionfield Technology Solutions, Ltd. 
• Life Diagnostics 
• Pennsylvania American Water 
• Presence Bank 
• Root Mass Farm 
• Rothwell Document Solutions 
• SD-FHA 
• John Serock Catering 
• uFinancial Group / Ed Dracup 
• Veritiv Corporation 
• Vynamic
• Wealth Enhancement Group / Pete Hoover, CFP

Learn more about the Chester County Food Bank.