Food Bank of Delaware receives Community Partner Award from Delaware State Education Association

The Food Bank of Delaware received the Delaware State Education Association’s (DSEA) 2024 Community Partner Award during the organization’s annual Representative Assembly on Saturday, March 23 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington.

The Food Bank was nominated by Gloria Ho, a school social worker at Milton Elementary School in the Cape Henlopen School District. Ho praised the Food Bank’s commitment to eliminating childhood hunger, specifically addressing the Backpack Program.

“The Food Bank of Delaware has been an exceptional advocate for public education, consistently demonstrating their commitment to our students and public schools through their various programs and initiatives designed to address food insecurity. As a School Social Worker, I can’t express enough how much their programs, such as the weekend Backpack Food program and school Food Pantries, have benefitted hundreds of children and families in my school and many other Delaware schools over the years,” she said.

The Community Partner Award is presented annually as established by the DSEA Executive Board to recognize local businesses, organizations, or individuals that support public education and the work of DSEA, according to the DSEA’s web site.

Kanefsky expressed gratitude for the award, specifically addressing the connections between food insecurity and the impact on hunger and learning. She recognized Ho’s long-time and ongoing commitment – since 2009 – to the Backpack Program providing weekend and holiday meals for students.

“We are honored to receive the Community Partner Award from the DSEA,” said Kanefsky. “Even more special was having Gloria Ho present it. Gloria is a remarkable partner in our pursuit to make sure children in Delaware have food to eat weekends and during the holidays. It’s heartbreaking to think that a child may not eat if he or she is not in school. This award gives us an opportunity to highlight the importance of partnership between the Food Bank of Delaware and schools throughout our state to help ensure no child goes hungry.”