First Resource Bank, a community bank based in Exton, with three locations, has emerged victorious in a spirited “food fight” competition among five financial institutions.
The challenge aimed to collect the most food to support the Chester County Food Bank (CCFB), which distributes over 3.9 million meals annually to combat hunger in the community.
Despite being pitted against much larger institutions, First Resource Bank demonstrated its commitment to community service by contributing nearly 1,600 pounds of food, out of a total of 3,000 pounds collected during the drive. The total food collected represents more than $6,500 in value, providing crucial support at a time when the Chester County Food Bank faces significant challenges. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently canceled a $250,000 food order from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for the quarter beginning April 1, 2025. If this trend continues, the Food Bank could lose up to $1 million in USDA food.
“The passion and generosity shown by First Resource Bank and the other institutions reminds us that we are never alone in this work,” said Jeff Howard, Director of Development at Chester County Food Bank. “When a community joins hands, there’s no limit to the good we can do.”
Lauren Ranalli, President and CEO of First Resource Bank, shared her pride in her team’s remarkable efforts: “I am immensely proud of our team for their unwavering dedication and hard work in collecting the most food during this drive. While we are thrilled to have gathered the highest amount of food, the real victory lies in ensuring no one in our community goes hungry. This is where community banks truly excel, and it was heartening to see such enthusiastic participation from other local institutions.”
Food drives like these are essential in helping the Chester County Food Bank continue its mission to combat hunger. First Resource Bank plans to support the Food Bank again this year at their fall shred event on Sept. 27 and invites the community to follow them on social media for more details.
As one of the few remaining locally owned and operated banks, First Resource Bank has earned a tremendous reputation for its philanthropic work within the community. Their commitment to providing superior customer service in tandem with supporting the community has earned them multiple awards including Best Bank in Chester County for seven consecutive years, Best Bank along the Main Line four years straight, and a five-time recipient of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Best Places to Work Award.
Learn more at First Resource Bank. First Resource Bank is a locally owned and operated Pennsylvania state-chartered bank, serving the banking needs of businesses, professionals, and individuals in the Delaware Valley. The Bank offers a full range of deposit and credit services with a high level of personalized service. First Resource Bank also offers a broad range of traditional financial services and products, competitively priced and delivered in a responsive manner to small businesses, professionals, and residents in the local market.
