Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Cocoa Packs Inc
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: PO Box 613
City: Hershey
State: Pennsylvania
Postal Code: 17033-2237
Main Phone: 7175660952
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.cocoapacks.org
Employer ID Number: 81-2618467
Organization Tax Status: 501C3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 1-18-2024
Requested Amount: $5,000

Project Title: Weekend Food Assistance for Children
Project Description:

Cocoa Packs purpose is to distribute nutritious food to any child experiencing food insecurity in conjunction with providing the love and support to facilitate the success of that child.

Cocoa Packs is a weekend food assistance program providing weekly food packs filled with non-perishable food items, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, frozen fish and poultry and fresh food from local food rescue partners to 1,400 children from birth through 12th grade across 25 different school districts and five counties in South Central Pennsylvania (Dauphin, Lancaster, York, Cumberland and Lebanon).

In addition to weekly food packs, children actively enrolled have access to our extension services (clothing, shoes, hygiene products, distribution of new socks and underwear, new backpacks filled with school supplies, new winter coats and accessories and so much more) which contribute to enhancing their overall emotional and physical wellbeing.

School-based programs can provide subsidized nutritious meals during the school day; however, this leaves a gap on the weekends, over the holidays and in the summer. The remaining 185 days of the year, those children facing food insecurity are truly vulnerable in their access to food.

Cocoa Packs was founded in 2015 and has grown from assisting 92 children a week to now over 1,400 children. These children are identified as food insecure through food subsidization lists at schools, social workers, school counselor identification and self or parental referrals. All children are eligible to be enrolled and can be done via Cocoa Packs website.

Note from a mother: “Your kindness knows no bounds and your generosity is never ending. You have helped put food in my daughter’s belly, helped me to get a job, provided gifts for the holiday and so much more! Cocoa Packs is a blessing to the community, the school and to me.”

Total Project Budget: $280,500

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: Costco $500, Walmart $6,000, Harry John Erbe Charitable Trust $5,000, Giant Food Stores $5,000, McCormick Family Foundation $2,500, Thrivent $2,500, Hershey Rotary Club $2,000. Potential: The Children’s Home Foundation $6,000, Delta Dental Foundation $15,000, Leo Niessen Jr. Charitable Trust $5,000, Members 1st Foundation $7,500

Project Duration: Ongoing
Geographical Area Served: South Central Pennsylvania
Age Group To Be Served: Birth through 12th Grade

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Christine
Contact Last Name: Drexler
Contact Title: President & Founder, Cocoa Packs
Contact Phone: 7175660952
Contact Email: cocoapacksoffice@gmail.com