Pa. Agriculture Secretary to Address Anti-Hunger Advocates

MEDIA CONTACT: Kurt Knaus 

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Pa. Agriculture Secretary to Address Anti-Hunger Advocates 

Sec. Redding to headline conference focused on senior food box deliveries while recognizing leaders in the fight against hunger 

HARRISBURG, Pa. (March 25, 2026) – Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding will headline a gathering of anti-hunger advocates at a biannual statewide conference focused specifically on expanding food access for older adults while also recognizing several leaders working to end hunger across the commonwealth. 

The two-day event begins with the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 inside the Metropolitan Room at The Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. Second St., Harrisburg. Secretary Redding will give the keynote address inside the Harrisburger Room at the Hilton at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26. 

Media coverage of both events is invited and welcome. 

“We are honored to welcome Secretary Redding and partners from across Pennsylvania who are committed to ensuring that our most vulnerable – Pennsylvania Seniors – have reliable and consistent access to nutritious food,” said Hunger-Free Pennsylvania CEO Stuart Haniff, MHA. “Programs like senior food box deliveries are a lifeline for many seniors living on fixed incomes, and this gathering is a testament to the strong and vital partnerships between agriculture, community organizations, and advocates working together to make sure no Pennsylvanian goes hungry.” 

Partners of the Year 

On Wednesday evening, Hunger-Free Pennsylvania will honor Business and Professional Women of Pennsylvania as its “Statewide Partner of the Year.” BPW/PA, a statewide organization with more than 1,100 members across 42 local organizations, made anti-hunger advocacy a key part of their organizational platform. Through the dedication and leadership of members across the state, the organization mobilized advocates, elevated hunger as a critical issue, and helped strengthen efforts to ensure more Pennsylvanians have access to the food they need. 

The group will be represented by Sarah Kitchen, state president of BPW/PA, and Denise Chresos, state project chair of BPW/PA.  

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as Statewide Partner of the Year,” Kitchen said. “Our members are passionate about strengthening our communities, and that includes standing up for families and seniors who struggle with food insecurity. Members across the commonwealth took action to raise awareness and advocate for solutions, and we’re proud to stand alongside partners working to end hunger in Pennsylvania.” 

“Making anti-hunger advocacy part of BPW/PA’s platform inspired members in communities across Pennsylvania to take action,” Chresos said. “From raising awareness to supporting local efforts, our members demonstrated how professional women can use their voices and leadership to make a real difference for neighbors facing hunger.” 

DoorDash will be named “Strategic Partner of the Year” for helping to transform food access in Pennsylvania through its community initiative, Project DASH. The program partners with organizations like Hunger-Free Pennsylvania and its members to deliver meals and essential items to those who need them most — particularly seniors with limited mobility or transportation options. 

In addition, Ceisler Media and Issue Advocacy will be recognized as “Media Partner of the Year” for its 20-year partnership with Hunger-Free Pennsylvania and its members, and for its continued advocacy and communications leadership with a variety of organizations in the fight to end hunger. 

Full Event Details 

• The ceremony honoring Business and Professional Women of Pennsylvania, DoorDash and Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 inside the Metropolitan Room at The Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. Second St., Harrisburg. 

• Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding will give the keynote address to close out the two-day conference at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 inside the Harrisburger Room at The Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. Second St., Harrisburg. 

The conference focuses on Pennsylvania’s Senior Food Box Program, which is a nutrition assistance program that provides monthly boxes of healthy, shelf-stable foods to low-income seniors across the commonwealth. It is designed to supplement the diets of older adults and help them maintain good health while living on limited incomes. 

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Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, in partnership with 18 food banks serving all 67 counties, represents one of the largest charitable food distribution networks in the commonwealth. HFPA, in collaboration with state and federal governments and other nonprofit organizations, works to ensure food security for all Pennsylvanians. More at: www.pafoodbanks.org.