The core of Cocoa Packs mission is to ensure that all children are food secure every day of the year. Each of our weekly Packs contain 27-30 items. Each week, a distribution of milk and eggs accompany packs. Cocoa Packs has also partnered with Blessings of Hope to intentionally get more fresh fruits & vegetables in the hands of all children enrolled in Cocoa Packs.
What we’ve realized, however, is that food is not the only barrier for children, it’s just one of them. As Cocoa Packs as grown, the weekly Packs have become the gateway to a number of wraparound services offered to each child enrolled, addressing their overall wellness.
Cocoa Packs Leadership
Board of Directors
Christine Drexler
President & Founder
Kathy Cerullo-Frick
Director of Operations
Living Well Institute
Jacob Clemens
Recruiter
Mary Dague
Retired Principal
Annville-Cleona School District
Jim Gainer
CEO/Executive Director
Livin Life My Way
Mark Totoro
Former CEO
Catholic Charities
Audrey Wilder
Former Discipleship Consultant/Director of Christian Education & Young People’s Ministry
Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church
Leading with love and care for the whole child.
In addition to weekly Cocoa Packs, once actively enrolled, your child will be eligible for the wraparound complementary services offered exclusively to our clients.
Quarterly Events
On a quarterly basis, we provide interactive stations to promote overall wellness, teach skills and engage children in positive ways to learn.
Advocacy & Love
Helping children wherever they are in life by championing for them in a variety of arenas so they succeed in all areas of life.
Enhance Overall Learning
Committed to providing educational opportunities for children to experience something new that enhances their overall learning, we offer a learning space which includes a lending library, computers, desks/printers , creative coloring station & homework help.
Cocoa Packs Clothing Closet
All children enrolled in the Cocoa Packs program become eligible to access the Cocoa Packs Clothing Closet, which provides clothing to meet the needs of our children and help them succeed.
Cocoa Packs Presents
Cocoa Packs Presents spreads holiday joy by providing a unique shopping experience for the families of the children we assist. It is made entirely possible by the collective teamwork of our generous community and local businesses.
As nearly 34,000 children returned to public schools in Dauphin County in the Fall of 2021, more than 62% of them were eligible for free or reduced lunch*, which can indicate a child is experiencing food insecurity. Food insecurity can be found in the faces of all children, from all backgrounds and walks of life.
*Source: PA Dept of Education National School Lunch Program Reports
