Purchase made possible through generous donation from Aqua Pennsylvania
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (February 2, 2026) – West Chester Food Cupboard (WCFC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, celebrated today the installation of a new generator that will allow the Chester County facility to remain fully open in the event of an extended power outage.
Each year, WCFC purchases $800,000 worth of refrigerated and frozen food items. At any point in time, $50,000 worth of perishable foods is on hand at the Food Cupboard. A lengthy power outage would result in hundreds of pounds of food being thrown away and thousands of dollars wasted. The new generator maintains refrigeration of perishable foods at all times.
“Not only does this generator ensure we can preserve the food, but it also guarantees service to those in the community who rely on West Chester Food Cupboard,” said WCFC Board Chair Maggie McIntosh. “Our neighbors can count on us having our doors open, lights on, and stocked with fresh food when they are without power at home. This partnership with Aqua is critical because no one should go hungry.”
The generator was purchased through a $25,000 donation from Aqua Pennsylvania’s Essential Foundation, which seeks to provide essential resources for the communities Aqua serves. Aqua Pennsylvania, an Essential Utilities company, serves many of the people who use the WCFC as a primary source of food assistance.
“As a utility company that runs 24/7, we understand the importance of planning for emergencies and the need for uninterrupted service to the community,” said Essential Utilities CEO Christopher Franklin. “I am proud of the partnership we have with West Chester Food Cupboard. Their mission to provide families with food and other essential items directly correlates with our mission to support the communities we serve.”
Local officials were also on hand to talk about the importance of a partnership like this between Essential Utilities (Aqua PA) and West Chester Food Cupboard.
“Essential Utilities is stepping up to make sure the West Chester area, from West Goshen to West Chester Borough, has access to what’s incredibly important and that’s food,” said Josh Maxwell, Chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners.
“The West Chester Food Cupboard represents everything that is good about West Chester,” said West Chester Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste. “Their compassion, their care, their kindness, and the culture; because everyone here hustles and they hustle with a smile.”
About West Chester Food Cupboard
Many households do not earn enough to afford the basic household necessities of housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care, and a basic smartphone plan. Even though many are working, their income does not cover the cost of living in our area, and they require assistance to survive.
WCFC is one of the largest hunger relief agencies in Chester County and the primary source of food assistance for low-income residents in and around the West Chester Area School District. From July 2024 to June 2025, WCFC provided 2.2 million pounds of food, free of charge, to more than 8,500 people, including children and seniors. All our welcome to utilize WCFC’s services.
Over the last five years our community has seen an increase in food insecurity. The West Chester Food Cupboard has seen the need for our services increase by 30% in the last year alone.
About Essential Utilities
Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) delivers safe, 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, donating more than $4 million from the Essential Foundation each year, and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting thousands of acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.
Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 9 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.
About Aqua Pennsylvania
Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.5 million people in 33 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Visit AquaWater.com for more information or follow @MyAquaWater on Facebook and @MyAquaWater on X.
Media Contact:
Fiona Allison
610.344.3175