Volunteer recognized by YWCA for passionate service to area food bank
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Marianne E. DePasqua, client development specialist for Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Pennsylvania College of Technology, is among the eight newest inductees into the YWCA Northcentral Pennsylvania's Women of Excellence program.
“Marianne lends her talent, heart and hands to improve the lives of families who are suffering the despair of limited or no access to reliable food sources," said Shannon M. Munro, the college's vice president for workforce development, in nominating her co-worker for the Class of 2018. “Because of her extensive social media network, she's been able to bring a new level of awareness to the serious issue of hunger and to the programs available through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.”
DePasqua began volunteering at the food bank in 2015, and almost immediately founded the Fabulous Food Packers. The community-minded coalition is the first social media-based group organized to benefit the agency, and delivers a consistent stream of 15 to 25 volunteers who assist in monthly packing events.
"Marianne continues enhancing her engagement, providing excellent services and amazing ambassadorship for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank," executive director Joe Arthur said. "She organizes hundreds of volunteers from her thousands of community and social media friends! Marianne has truly helped our organization become a marquee organization in Lycoming County."
She accepted a Hunger Hero Award on behalf of the group in 2016, and is a member of the food bank's board of directors. She also chairs the Northern Tier Advisory Committee (which represents 13 of the 27 counties served by the regional agency.
"She serves as an ambassador and shares the mission of the food bank with anyone who will listen," Munro said, detailing the breadth of events in which DePasqua has participated: the annual Soup and a Bowl fundraiser, holiday food distribution, legislative tours and the grand opening of the food bank's 30,000-square-foot Williamsport Healthy Food Hub.
DePasqua, who is working toward a bachelor's degree at the college in business administration: management concentration, was a 10-year board member of the West Branch Human Resource Society and has served on the Leadership Lycoming Curriculum Committee for two years.
Inducted Thursday during a banquet at the Williamsport Country Club, she is the 12th Penn College employee to be selected in the 10 years of the local YWCA’s Women of Excellence program. The event celebrates the honorees' strength, integrity, leadership and dedication to Lycoming County.
"I’m humbled to be included in this year’s class. I’m thankful for any attention it brings to the serious issue of hunger insecurity," DePasqua said. "The camaraderie with both staff and volunteers is top-notch. I am also fortunate to be employed by an organization so deeply rooted in the community. I love seeing my Penn College colleagues and students getting involved."
“Marianne lends her talent, heart and hands to improve the lives of families who are suffering the despair of limited or no access to reliable food sources," said Shannon M. Munro, the college's vice president for workforce development, in nominating her co-worker for the Class of 2018. “Because of her extensive social media network, she's been able to bring a new level of awareness to the serious issue of hunger and to the programs available through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.”
DePasqua began volunteering at the food bank in 2015, and almost immediately founded the Fabulous Food Packers. The community-minded coalition is the first social media-based group organized to benefit the agency, and delivers a consistent stream of 15 to 25 volunteers who assist in monthly packing events."Marianne continues enhancing her engagement, providing excellent services and amazing ambassadorship for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank," executive director Joe Arthur said. "She organizes hundreds of volunteers from her thousands of community and social media friends! Marianne has truly helped our organization become a marquee organization in Lycoming County."
She accepted a Hunger Hero Award on behalf of the group in 2016, and is a member of the food bank's board of directors. She also chairs the Northern Tier Advisory Committee (which represents 13 of the 27 counties served by the regional agency.
"She serves as an ambassador and shares the mission of the food bank with anyone who will listen," Munro said, detailing the breadth of events in which DePasqua has participated: the annual Soup and a Bowl fundraiser, holiday food distribution, legislative tours and the grand opening of the food bank's 30,000-square-foot Williamsport Healthy Food Hub.
DePasqua, who is working toward a bachelor's degree at the college in business administration: management concentration, was a 10-year board member of the West Branch Human Resource Society and has served on the Leadership Lycoming Curriculum Committee for two years.
Inducted Thursday during a banquet at the Williamsport Country Club, she is the 12th Penn College employee to be selected in the 10 years of the local YWCA’s Women of Excellence program. The event celebrates the honorees' strength, integrity, leadership and dedication to Lycoming County.
"I’m humbled to be included in this year’s class. I’m thankful for any attention it brings to the serious issue of hunger insecurity," DePasqua said. "The camaraderie with both staff and volunteers is top-notch. I am also fortunate to be employed by an organization so deeply rooted in the community. I love seeing my Penn College colleagues and students getting involved."