Parkland CARES Food Pantry

What Parkland CARES Food Pantry does

Parkland CARES Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 83-0559064) founded in 2018 and headquartered in Orefield, Pennsylvania, that addresses food insecurity within the Parkland School District in Lehigh County. The organization operates two core service lines: a Choice Pantry that allows verified Parkland School District residents to shop monthly for food items tailored to household needs, and the Snack Pack Program, which distributes weekend and holiday food bags to over 325 students twice monthly across all nine elementary schools, both middle schools, and the high school. Eligibility requires a Pennsylvania driver's license or resident card plus proof of residency; proof of income is not required.

The organization runs on minimal proprietary technology, leveraging PantrySoft for reservation management and Givecloud for donation processing. Operations are supported by an 8-person staff with specialized roles including Director of Pantry Operations, Snack Pack Coordinator, Food Sourcing Coordinator, Community Outreach Coordinator, Data Coordinator, and Inventory and Stock Coordinator. Supporting volunteer programs include High School CARES (ages 14+) and Kids CARES (through 8th grade), a community drop-box network across five partner businesses, and monthly food collection events.

The revenue model is entirely donation-based, drawing from individual contributions via the Givecloud portal, tiered corporate sponsorships ($1,000 Produce, $2,500 Dairy, $5,000 Protein levels), foundation grants (Haffner-Trinkle, Members 1st, Jeff & Roberta Epstein Family Foundation), state and federal grants, Lehigh County government funding, and in-kind food donations channeled primarily through Second Harvest Food Bank plus local farms (Jaindl Farms, Crooked Row Farm) and grocery partners (Grocery Outlet). All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. A new Choice Pantry facility opened in March 2025, restoring in-person shopping after a COVID-era drive-through period.

Name

Parkland CARES Food Pantry

Legal name

Parkland CARES Food Pantry

Website

https://parklandcaresfp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Parkland CARES Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Orefield, PA, providing monthly Choice Pantry food assistance and weekend Snack Packs to over 325 students within the Parkland School District, funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Assistance / Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Community food pantry
• Food assistance services
• School nutrition support
• Volunteer food programs
• Nonprofit hunger relief

Headquarters

HQ city

Orefield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Monetary Donations: The organization accepts financial contributions from individuals through its website donation portal (Givecloud). Donations are described as vital to enabling Parkland CARES to continue providing food and assistance, with every contribution directly supporting the mission regardless of size.
2. Corporate and Community Donations: Parkland CARES receives donations from corporations, small businesses, and community organizations. These include both monetary contributions and in-kind food donations. Corporate and community partners fund specific food categories (e.g., protein, dairy, produce, grain).
3. State and Federal Funding / Grants: The organization is funded through state and federal funding and grants, in addition to foundation grants. Funding sources include government programs, charitable foundations, and trusts such as the Haffner-Trinkle Foundation, Members 1st Foundation, and the Lehigh County government.
4. Food Donations (In-Kind): Parkland CARES receives thousands of pounds of food each month through its partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, as well as donations from local farmers, grocery stores, churches, businesses, and community Rotarians. These in-kind food donations are a primary form of revenue in kind, allowing the organization to distribute fresh produce, meat, dairy, and non-perishable goods to families.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Parkland CARES Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free food assistance to residents of the Parkland School District in Pennsylvania. Its core offering is the Choice Pantry, a monthly on-site food shopping experience where families select non-perishable goods, produce, dairy, and meats to fit their needs, complemented by the Snack Pack Program that delivers weekend and holiday food bags to over 325 students twice monthly through school guidance counselors.

Product overview

Parkland CARES Food Pantry operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit food assistance organization serving the Parkland School District community in Orefield, PA. The core offerings include the Choice Pantry (a monthly food shopping service allowing families to select items meeting their needs) and the Snack Pack Program (providing weekend food to over 325 Parkland students twice monthly). Supporting programs include High School CARES and Kids CARES (youth volunteer programs), Monthly Food Collections, Community Dropbox locations, and organized Food Drives. All programs work together to address food insecurity in the Parkland community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• High School CARES: A program designed for high school students (ages 14 and older) providing hands-on volunteer experience while helping local families facing food insecurity.
• Kids CARES
• Choice Pantry
• Snack Pack Program

Products and services

• Choice Pantry Monthly food shopping service where Parkland School District residents select food items that meet their unique needs, providing dignified access to nutritious food including non-perishable goods, produce, dairy, and meats.
• Snack Pack Program Weekend and holiday food program for Parkland School District students, providing bags of food when free and reduced school meals are unavailable. Coordinated through school guidance counselors to over 325 students twice monthly across all district schools.
• High School CARES Program Volunteer program for high school students ages 14 and older, providing hands-on experience in pantry operations including sorting food, date-checking products, weighing donations, packing food, and stocking shelves. Qualifies for community service hours.
• Kids CARES Program Volunteer program for school-aged children through 8th grade, offering age-appropriate hands-on activities such as sorting and organizing donated food, weighing donations, packing food items, and stocking shelves while learning about food insecurity.
• Community Dropbox Program Partnership with local businesses to collect most-needed food items during regular business hours. Drop box locations include Kiefer Family Orthodontics, Parkland Library, The Sports Factory, Extraordinary Smiles, and Philly Pretzel Factory.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 325 students receive Snack Packs twice monthly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Second Harvest Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Harvest Food Bank is a key food supply partner, providing thousands of pounds of food each month to Parkland CARES. The organization is registered with Second Harvest as part of the intake process for families seeking assistance. Second Harvest Food Bank's mission is to obtain and distribute food to people in need through area non-profits and to provide resources for education and advocacy to end hunger.
• Parkland School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParkland CARES is closely integrated with the Parkland School District. The Snack Pack Program is coordinated through school guidance counselors. Students from all 9 elementary schools, both middle schools, and the high school participate. The district also supports families through the Parkland REACH (Resources Enhancing All Children's Health) program, which the organization's leadership (including Dr. Michelle Minotti, Assistant Superintendent) has helped establish. Parkland School District is also a site for food distributions during the drive-through distribution period.
• Extraordinary SmilesmajorOthersExtraordinary Smiles, a dental practice in Schnecksville, is a $5,000 PROTEIN-level food partner, supporting access to fresh meats, beans, eggs, and other vital proteins. Extraordinary Smiles also sponsors a community drop box location for food donations. Contributions from Extraordinary Smiles and donor Richard and Angela Saleeze together support the protein category.
• Fitzpatrick, Lentz & Bubba, P.C.majorOthersFitzpatrick, Lentz & Bubba is a $1,000 PRODUCE-level food partner, supporting the provision of fresh fruits and vegetables to hundreds of families. Additionally, Jordan Ohl, a board member of Parkland CARES, is an attorney at Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba.
• Second Harvest Food BankcoreOthersSecond Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley (SHFBLV) is listed as a key organization partner, providing food supply and distribution infrastructure. Parkland CARES receives thousands of pounds of food monthly through this partnership.
• United Way of the Greater Lehigh ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way is listed as an organization partner and provides referrals and additional resources for community members in need. United Way supports individuals and families seeking food resources, housing assistance, and other necessities.
• Allentown West RotarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Allentown West Rotary Club is a key community partner. Parkland CARES receives support from local Rotarians, and the Executive Director, Katrina Sundstrom, is a Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient for contributions to the Rotary Club of Allentown West. Rotarians support food donations and community outreach efforts.
• Grocery OutletmajorOthersGrocery Outlet is listed as a business partner, contributing food donations to help stock the pantry's shelves with discounted and surplus grocery items.
• Jaindl FarmsmajorOthersJaindl Farms, a local farm, provides fresh produce to support Parkland CARES's ability to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to families.
• Crooked Row FarmmajorOthersCrooked Row Farm, a local Pennsylvania farm, is a business partner that supports Parkland CARES with fresh produce donations for community distribution.
• State Farm (Rich Sundstrom)majorOthersState Farm, through Sales Leader Rich Sundstrom (who serves as Parkland CARES Treasurer), is a corporate partner. Rich focuses on recruiting and developing insurance agents in the Lehigh Valley area. The State Farm Foundation is also listed as a grants/trusts partner.
• Morgan Stanley (Al Haddad)majorOthersMorgan Stanley, through Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor Al Haddad (who serves as Vice President of Parkland CARES's board), is a corporate partner. Al has been with Morgan Stanley for 41 years and has leveraged his charitable network to support the organization's mission.
• Lehigh Valley Chamber of CommercecoreOthersThe Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is a partner organization. The Executive Director, Katrina Sundstrom, is a member, providing networking and visibility for Parkland CARES within the regional business community. The Western Lehigh Chamber is also listed as a partner.
• Volpe Family and Upper Lehigh Democratic ClubmajorOthersListed as DAIRY-level food partners ($2,500), supporting the supply of fresh milk, cheese, and dairy staples each month. Donors include the Volpe Family, Upper Lehigh Democratic Club, David and Marra Hein, and Spherion Staffing and Recruiting.
• Kiefer Family OrthodonticsminorOthersKiefer Family Orthodontics in Allentown sponsors a community drop box location for food donations, allowing community members to drop off food during regular business hours.
• Parkland LibraryminorOthersParkland Library serves as a community drop box location for food donations, making it convenient for community members to contribute to Parkland CARES.
• The Sports FactoryminorOthersThe Sports Factory in the Lehigh Valley sponsors a community drop box location for food donations.
• Philly Pretzel FactoryminorOthersPhilly Pretzel Factory (West Allentown location) sponsors a community drop box for food donations.
• Entech Engineering (Christina 'Tori' Morgan)majorOthersEntech Engineering, where board member Christina 'Tori' Morgan serves as Director of Funding, Regulatory Relations & Compliance, is listed as a business partner. Tori brings 30+ years of environmental and public sector expertise and serves on multiple community boards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Philabundance: Regional food bank serving the Greater Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania, comparable in function to Second Harvest of the Lehigh Valley. Shares the food-bank-plus-pantry-network model in a different Pennsylvania geography.
• Central Pennsylvania Food Bank: Regional food bank covering central Pennsylvania. Comparable as a regional food distribution hub and community food service provider, but operating in a different geography from Parkland CARES' Lehigh Valley service area.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella network of food banks and pantries. Parkland CARES is a downstream beneficiary of the Feeding America network through Second Harvest, sharing the same anti-hunger mission but operating at a much smaller, hyperlocal scale.

Emerging players

• Share Food Program: Regional food distribution nonprofit serving the Greater Philadelphia region with food pantries, partner network, and nutrition programs. Comparable as a community food service provider with a partner-pantry model.
• Meals on Wheels of the Lehigh Valley: Lehigh Valley-based nonprofit delivering meals to seniors and other vulnerable residents. Comparable in addressing local food insecurity and serving seniors, but specializes in home delivery rather than pantry distribution.

Others

• The Food Trust: National nonprofit focused on food access, nutrition education, and healthy food availability. Parkland CARES' Board President Candace Young previously held a leadership role here, and the organization shares a food-access/anti-hunger mission with a broader geographic scope.
• United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley: Listed partner of Parkland CARES providing referrals and broader community resources. While not a food pantry, it operates in the same community-services ecosystem in the Lehigh Valley, channeling clients to food assistance and adjacent social services.
• Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV): Anti-poverty community action agency in the Lehigh Valley addressing food, housing, and economic hardship. Operates in the same geography and shared beneficiary population as Parkland CARES, with broader social services.

Direct peers

• Blessings in a Backpack: National nonprofit that provides weekend food packs to food-insecure elementary and middle school students - directly comparable to Parkland CARES' Snack Pack Program in mission, target population, and weekend-meal-gap solution.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley: Parkland CARES' primary food supply partner and the regional food bank serving the same Lehigh Valley geography. Both distribute food to community members in need, with Second Harvest operating at a wholesale/distribution level and Parkland CARES at the consumer-facing pantry level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/parklandcaresfp
• Facebookfacebook.com/ParklandCARESFoodPantry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parklandcaresfoodpantry
• Instagraminstagram.com/parklandcaresfoodpantry

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Parkland CARES Food Pantry