FirstEnergy Foundation's Largest Hunger Relief Grant to Date Will Deliver 1.9 Million Meals in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia

32 food banks and pantries benefit from $2.5 million six-state program

FAIRMONT, W.Va., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The FirstEnergy Foundation is supporting local communities as part of its Hunger Action Month initiative – awarding $620,000 in grants to 32 food banks and pantries in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. In total, the initiative is granting $2.5 million to more than 100 hunger relief organizations across New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, marking the Foundation's largest hunger-relief investment to date.

The foundation's grants will provide approximately 1.9 million meals in West Virginia and Maryland communities served by Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE). The grants will also provide meals in Virginia – including Loudoun, Frederick and Clarke counties – where Potomac Edison operates more than 300 miles of transmission lines.

Tackling A Growing Hunger Epidemic

Food insecurity is a growing crisis across the U.S., according to Feeding America and the USDA. Over 2 million people in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia face food insecurity due to rising prices, climate-related disruptions and supply chain vulnerabilities.

Jim Myers, FirstEnergy's President of West Virginia and Maryland: "I've seen the impact of food insecurity firsthand, and no one should ever have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Hunger Action Month reminds us that our communities are stronger when we lift one another up. Together, we're strengthening local hunger relief resources and helping deliver nutritious meals to neighbors who need it most."

View photos of FirstEnergy employees and leaders providing local food bank donations on Flickr.  

Feeding the Community

Foodbanks receiving grants include:

• Berkeley County CCAP/Loaves and Fishes (Berkeley County, W. Va.) - $35,000.
• Catholic Charities of West Virginia (Roane County, W. Va.) - $10,000
• Cherry River Foundation (Nicholas County, W. Va) - $10,000
• Gilmer County Family Resource Network (Gilmer County, W. Va) - $10,000
• Lewis County Family Resource Network (Lewis County, W. Va) - $10,000
• Martinsburg Union Rescue Mission (Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.; Frederick County, Va.; Washington County, Md.) - $25,000.
• Marion County Senior Center (Marion County, W. Va) - $5,000
• Moorefield Church of Good Food Pantry (Grant and Hardy counties, W. Va.) - $20,000
• Mountaineer Food Bank (Multiple counties, W. Va.) - $75,000.
• Pantry Plus More (Monongalia County, W. Va.) - $10,000
• Old Man Rivers Mission (Wood County, W. Va.) - $10,000
• Taylor County Collaborative Family Resource Network (Taylor County, W. Va.) - $10,000
• United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley (Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties, W. Va) - $25,000
• United Way of Harrison & Doddridge Counties, W. Va. - $25,000
• United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties, W. Va. - $25,000
• United Way of the Greenbrier Valley (Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Monroe counties, W. Va.) - $25,000
• Upshur Cooperative Parish (Upshur County, W. Va.) - $10,000
• West Virginia University Foundation (Monongalia County, W. Va) - $10,000
• Faith in Action (Jefferson County, W. Va.) - $10,000
• Blackwater Ministerial Association (Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.) - $5,000
• Community Markets (Multiple counties, including Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.) - $10,000
• Blue Ridge Community & Technical College Foundation (Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, W. Va.; Frederick County, Va.; Washington County, Md.) - $15,000
• Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network (Hancock and Brooke counties, W. Va.) - $10,000
• Farmers & Hunters Feeding the Hungry (Washington County, Md.) - $20,000
• Frederick Rescue Mission (Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington counties, Md.) - $20,000
• Union Rescue Mission of Western Maryland (Allegany and Garrett counties, Md.) - $20,000
• Western Maryland Food Bank (Allegany, Frederick, Washington and Garrett counties, Md.) - $50,000
• Washington County Community Action Council (Washington County, Md.) - $20,000
• Hagerstown Area Religious Council (Washington County, Md.) - $20,000
• Loudoun Hunger Relief (Loudoun County, Va.) - $20,000
• Highland Food Pantry (Frederick County, Va.) - $5,000
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (Loudoun, Frederick and Clarke counties, Va.) - $45,000

Volunteering to Combat Hunger

In addition to grant funding, FirstEnergy demonstrates its commitment to community support by empowering employees with dedicated volunteer time-off (VTO) hours. This initiative enables employees to provide hands-on, boots-on-the-ground assistance to local nonprofits. In 2024 alone, FirstEnergy employees contributed more than 26,000 volunteer hours across the company's service territory – supporting causes such as local food banks, pantries and other vital community organizations.

History of Support

The FirstEnergy Foundation and FirstEnergy employees have been fighting food insecurity for over two decades. Since 2021, FirstEnergy employees have donated $650,000 directly to organizations focused on fighting hunger and improving nutrition. Nearly $7 million has been raised by employees over the past 23 years through the annual Harvest for Hunger campaign.

Last year, the FirstEnergy Foundation donated nearly $800,000 to hunger-related initiatives. 

How to Apply for a FirstEnergy Foundation Grant

The FirstEnergy Foundation provides support to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits that serve and meet the critical needs of our customers in communities served by FirstEnergy's electric operating companies and in areas where the company conducts business. Combined with the Hunger Action Month grants, the foundation has distributed more than $4 million in community support across FirstEnergy's service area to date in 2025.

The FirstEnergy Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. To inquire about grant opportunities, contact Torey Tolson, Community Involvement Consultant at [email protected].

Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Follow Mon Power at mon-power.com, on X @MonPowerWV, and on Facebook at facebook.com/MonPowerWV.

Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland and 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at potomacedison.com, on X @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.