The Grace Community Foundation Food Bank serves healthy food and fresh produce to more than 200 families each month.
The Rev. Donald Knapp and the congregation of Grace Episcopal Church founded the original food bank in 1972. Church members and Fr. Knapp bought food to hand out to those in need in downtown Allentown. This was the first Food Pantry in Allentown.
Twenty-five years later, Grace members decided the Food Bank needed to grow to keep up with demand, and completed the process of establishing Grace Community Foundation as an independent 501c3.
With this status, came more opportunities to apply for grants to fund the Food Bank. In 1997, Patty McNamara, a dedicated volunteer, was hired to operate the Food Bank, and it continues to flourish through her guidance.
