The donation will support innovative programs aimed at combating food insecurity in the county

Essential Utilities today announced that its Essential Foundation made a $20,000 donation to the Chester County Food Bank as a part of the company’s Fall for Food Banks initiative. Essential Utilities Chairman and CEO Chris Franklin presented the donation during a recent visit to the food bank, where he and other company leaders toured the facility and learned about the organization’s innovative programs for alleviating food insecurity in Chester County.

Essential’s annual Fall for Food Banks program, which distributed over $300,000 in charitable gifts this year, aims to help fight hunger and raise awareness for food insecurity in the communities it serves. Each fall, employees from across the Essential, Aqua and Peoples nine-state footprint partner with local food banks through charitable donations, food collections and volunteer events.

“In these challenging economic times, it is no secret that food insecurity has become a major issue in communities around the nation, including right here in Chester County,” said Franklin. “As a utility with deep roots in the region, we are committed to doing what we can to address this challenge. We are proud to support the Chester County Food Bank with a donation that will directly support the organization’s innovative approaches for meeting this critical need locally.”

The Chester County Food Bank serves over 40,000 people and distributes more than 3.5 million pounds of food each year. The organization collaborates with over 160 partners to provide culturally adaptive solutions to alleviate food insecurity among families throughout the county, while prioritizing nutrition and environmental impact. The food bank’s programs include a mobile food market which delivers to areas with limited options for grocery stores and transportation, and a restaurant workforce development program. More than half of the food they provide is fresh produce, which is the most requested item and can be difficult for those in need to access otherwise. Learn more at chestercountyfoodbank.org.

About Essential

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across nine states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

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