Frank Hasner, executive director of the Franklin Township Food Bank, left, accepts a $1,000 donation from Unity Bank Somerset’s Alex Shedlock. Photo: Unity Bank.

Unity Bank and its employees have donated a total of $15,000 to 15 food pantries in Central New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including to the Franklin Township Food Bank.

Donations were made to one service organization for each Unity branch, according to a press release from the bank. The funds were donated by Unity Bank employees and matched by the bank as part of a special holiday community service project.

The township food bank received a donation of $1,000.

“As a community bank, it is our responsibility to serve those in need in the towns and neighborhoods where we have branches,” Unity Bank President James A. Hughes said in the release. “We are all so busy these days that it is easy to forget there are many people who are struggling to make ends meet so I am very proud of Unity Bank’s employees for their generosity. The food pantry drive is just another way that Unity Bank and our employees show that we are committed to serving our communities.”

Donations of $1,000 were also presented to: Washington Community Food Pantry from Unity’s Washington Branch; FISH Hospitality Program, serving Middlesex, Union, and Somerset Counties, from Middlesex Branch; Flemington Area Food Pantry from Flemington Branch; The Food Bank Network of Somerset County in Bound Brook from North Plainfield Branch; Highland Park Community Food Pantry from Highland Park Branch; Home First Interfaith Housing & Family Services of Plainfield from Scotch Plains Branch; Linden Interfaith Network for Community Service from Linden Branch; Open Cupboard Food Pantry of Clinton from Clinton Branch; NORWESCAP Food Bank of Phillipsburg from Phillipsburg Branch; ProJect of Easton from Forks Township Branch; Readington Area Starfish from Whitehouse Branch; South Plainfield Social Services Holiday Project from South Plainfield Branch; St. James Food Pantry & Soup Kitchen in Edison from Edison Branch, and Union Food Pantry from Union Branch.