In 1989, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania began the annual Bread Box Awards. This event recognizes the efforts of groups and individuals who host fundraisers and food collections for Second Harvest. The awards honor those who helped alleviate hunger in our area in the past year.
Each year, Finalist Awards are presented in nine categories: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College/Technical School, Individual, Church, Organization, Small Business and Large Business. Judging is based on the creativity of the event, community awareness of the issues involving hunger and the amount of food or money collected.
A first and second place winner is selected in each category; the main award, an actual bread box, is presented to one of the first place winners. The rotating award is presented in recognition of the outstanding project of the year. The name of the winner is engraved on the Bread Box Award, which the winner proudly displays for one year:
2016 Winners
Overall Bread Box Award Recipient: Rouse
| First Place | Second Place | |
| Large Business | Erie News Now | Dollar Tree |
| Small Business | Wm.T Spaeder | Mantsch-Lafaro Insurance Agency |
| Church | St. Peter’s Lutheran Church | St. George Church |
| College/Tech School | Penn State Behrend | Mercyhurst University |
| Elementary School | Our Lady’s Christian School | McKean Elementary School |
| Middle School | Parker Middle School | Westlake Middle School |
| High School | Kane High School | Maplewood Jr./Sr. High School |
| Individual | Kathy and Nick Mobilia | Jim and Pat Renshaw |
| Organization | Rouse | Erie Otters Hockey |
