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:
2019 Winners
Overall Bread Box Award Recipient: Penelec
| First Place | Second Place | |
| Large Business | Penelec | Giant Eagle |
| Small Business | The Cork 1794 | West Advisory Group |
| Church | St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church | Roman Catholic Diocese |
| College/Tech School | Penn State Behrend | Mercyhurst University |
| Elementary School | St. Luke School | Blessed Sacrament Elementary School |
| Middle School | Wilson Middle School | Westlake Middle School |
| High School | McDowell High School | Fort LeBoeuf High School |
| Individual | Sean & Alicia Costello | Natalie Keil |
| Organization | Rouse | Erie Water Works |
