The Westmoreland County Food Bank is a private, nonprofit organization that supplies food to hungry people through a network of food assistance programs in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Of each dollar donated to WCFB, $0.95 goes to food and food programs.
Our emergency appeal brought in:
27.71%
response rate
2,569
total responses
$202,500
in donations
27.71%
response rate
2,569
total responses
$202,500
in donations
The Challenge
Increased need for food assistance
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to progress and impact the economy, Westmoreland County Food Bank saw a rise in need for emergency food assistance. They needed to send a disaster-related message to donors that addressed this increased need for urgent assistance.
The Solution
Creating an urgent emergency appeal
RKD worked with the food bank to quickly create an Emergency Food Fund appeal. We used urgent messaging that explained the increased need the organization was experiencing and how the donor could help. The appeal included straight asks based on the donors’ prior giving history.
Breakthrough
Donors rise to meet the need
Westmoreland County Food Bank received an incredible number of responses, including more than 1,200 in just one day. Donations totaled more than $202,500, and responses increased to 2,569. At a 27.71% response rate, this emergency appeal received three times the normal response for this timeframe. The food bank received so many responses that they even bought an electric letter opener to handle the volume!
