Scranton, Pa – Maternal and Family Health Services (MFHS) announced that it has received a $2,500 grant from the Schwartz Mack Foundation and a $7,500 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation for emergency distribution of infant formula for MFHS clients.

“The shortage of infant formula on the shelves in the last year has caused a tremendous hardship for our clients,” says MFHS President and CEO Maria Montoro Edwards, Ph.D. “Between ongoing supply chain issues and the large formula recall, many WIC clients could not access the options that are normally available through WIC. This funding allowed us to provide immediate relief to families who were struggling to feed their infants during this crisis.”

During the infant formula shortages, families who rely on WIC benefits faced additional barriers as only certain brands can be purchased with the benefits. Parents using the program had difficulty identifying stores that had their formula brand in stock, and often had limited transportation and were unable to travel to multiple stores to use their benefits.

“With this award, MFHS was able to help our families keep their children healthy and fed. We are grateful to the Scranton Area Community Foundation and the Schwartz Mack Foundation for helping the families we serve bridge the gap and ensure that no baby went hungry,” said Dr. Montoro Edwards. 

In photo (left to right): Laura Ducceschi, President & CEO, Scranton Area Community Foundation;  Barbara O’Hara, Esq., Chair, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board of Governors; Julie Nardella, PhD, MSN/Ed, RN, Chief Clinical Officer, Maternal and Family Health Services; Maria Montoro Edwards, PhD, President and CEO , Maternal and Family Health Services; Dave Price, Treasurer, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board of Governors

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About Maternal and Family Health Services:
Maternal and Family Health Services is a non-profit health and human service organization working to improve the health of Pennsylvania women and children by offering programs that prevent disease, promote wellness, and empower individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices. The agency oversees a network of health and nutrition centers in 17 Pennsylvania counties serving nearly 90,000 individuals each year through the following core programs: WIC Nutrition Program, Family Planning Program, Nurse-Family Partnership, Cancer Screening Services, the SafeTeens Initiative, and the Healthy Beginnings Plus Prenatal Program. For more information, call 1-800-367-6347, or visit www.mfhs.org.

About the Scranton Area Community Foundation:

The Scranton Area Community Foundation has been working to enhance the quality of life for people across the Northeastern Pennsylvania region since 1954, serving the community as a steward, a grantmaker, a charitable resource, and a catalyst for change and growth. The Foundation leads various initiatives including Women in Philanthropy, the Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence, NEPA Moves, NEPA Thrives, and the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. Additionally, the Foundation hosts and facilitates #NEPAGives and the NEPA Learning Conference. The Scranton Area Community Foundation is a public 501c3 community foundation with assets of more than $57 million and more than 275 charitable funds. The Scranton Area Community Foundation serves as the administrator to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation and the Robert H. Spitz Foundation. Through its foundation management services offered to other private and public foundations, the Scranton Area Community Foundation additionally manages assets of more than $37 million. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at www.safdn.org.