Corner Cupboard Food Bank, Inc., in conjunction with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, hosted its first emergency drive-up food distribution this past April at the Greene County Fairgrounds. The distribution served 1,140 families. Each car received two (25 lb.) boxes of food, including shelf-stable and frozen items and approximately 57,000 pounds of food was distributed.
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has aided the community of Greene County each month with the Produce to People initiative. Due to COVID-19, Produce to People has been canceled indefinitely and many community members of Greene County are suffering from food insecurity like never before, due to business closures also related to COVID-19.
During the 40 years the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has been serving the area it has never seen a need as large as during this pandemic. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit southwestern Pennsylvania, the organization has distributed a million pounds of food more than last year during the same period. The organization has also continued to work with school districts and community organizations to provide meals to children while school is not in session.
“The need in our region right now is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Lisa Scales, president and CEO of the Food Bank. “Many of those who we are serving recently lost their jobs and are new to needing food assistance. We remain committed to fulfilling our mission and ensuring that all of our neighbors have enough to eat.”
The Corner Cupboard Food Bank has also seen an increase in the number of people turning to its network of food assistance agencies in Greene County.
“As the lead hunger-relief agency in Greene County, we’re dedicated to meeting the need of our neighbors both throughout this pandemic and during non-crisis times,” said Candace Tustin, executive director of Corner Cupboard. “We are thankful to everyone who worked alongside us to make today possible for so many of our neighbors facing uncertainty right now.”
Many of those that assisted with the emergency food distribution are community members who have been continuous volunteers, and assist at the food bank and its pantry sites on a regular basis. The Corner Cupboard and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank are grateful for the usage of Greene County Fairgrounds property and the Greene County Sheriff’s department in Thursday’s distribution.
In these unusual and uncertain times, southwestern Pennsylvania’s food banks are dedicated to providing food to the people in the communities they serve to eliminate hunger. Those who need food assistance are encouraged to contact Corner Cupboard Food Bank, Inc. Individuals can find their food pantry by going to cornercupboard.org or calling 724-627-9784.
