صديقي العزيز،
Being in this season of reflection and togetherness, I find myself feeling incredibly thankful for YOU.
Your support of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank means so much to the thousands of families we serve across our region. Because of your compassion and generosity, more of our neighbors will be able to gather around their tables this holiday season with comfort, dignity and a nourishing meal.
Throughout this newsletter, you’ll read stories of people whose lives have been touched by your giving. These aren’t just stories, they’re reminders of what’s possible when a caring community comes together to ensure no one goes hungry.
Food connects us. It brings families, friends and communities together. And, thanks to you, more families will be able to experience that joy this holiday season.
When I sit down with my own family this holiday, I will be thinking of you — with deep gratitude for the kindness you share and the hope you inspire.
Thank you so much for your kindness! And remember, every $1 you give can help provide up to 3 meals this holiday season.
بكل امتنان,
ليزا أ. سكلز
الرئيس والمدير التنفيذي
“Thank You … It’s Very Appreciated”
With food prices rising, your support means everything this Thanksgiving.
Rosa works, like so many people in our community. But the rising cost of living makes it harder than ever for her to afford a traditional holiday meal for her family.
“Some of us work and don’t have the extra money to buy certain things for the meal,” she says. “And, I mean, it’s a lot of help for a lot of people — the prices of rent and everything is going up. So, this [food distribution] is something that we can get that’s free, that helps us. I think it’s a great thing.”
Thanks to your past support of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Rosa has received holiday groceries at recent area distributions. And she’s proud to say she uses the food to nourish her own household and support others.
“We cook, and then whatever we have left over, we give to other people,” she says.
Your generosity means Rosa hasn’t had to choose between keeping up with bills and putting a holiday meal on the table. It’s a real relief, and she wants you to know just how much it matters.
“Anything helps,” she says, “especially with the way things are going right now.”
The holidays are a time for gathering. Because of your support, Rosa and her family — and others — are able to gather around their table for a special holiday dinner with full plates and grateful hearts.
“Y’all Are Doing Great”
At 24, Christian embodies the spirit of family sacrifice this holiday season. He’s chosen to put his mother’s health before his own financial security, working at Dunkin’ while his wife serves as his mother’s caregiver.
Your kind support is writing a different story for families like theirs — one where love doesn’t have to compete with grocery bills that devour so much each month and leave so little room for essentials or the emergencies life inevitably brings.
“With all the prices of food going up and everything, I’m spending a good bit on rent and bills already,” Christian explains. “Money gets kind of tight.”
Christian’s family now finds relief through Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank because of compassionate friends like you. “I could spend less money on food and get more stuff in the house that I need,” he says, mentioning necessities like soap and toilet paper, items that are often overlooked.
Your support also creates financial breathing room. “It helps save money and put some back in savings in case I need [some] for an emergency or a rainy day,” he says.
To supporters who help make this relief possible, Christian continues, “Thank you for everything y’all are doing. It’s really helping folks like me. Even if I might have a job, it makes life a whole lot easier. For folks who have less than me, it’s a blessing.”
This is what your generosity makes possible. Every gift you give helps ensure families like Christian’s have the food they need, when they need it. Thank you.
Fresh Hope for the Holidays
Colette’s voice wavers as she is overcome with gratitude: “I could just cry because it’s a blessing to me.”
She isn’t alone. In Armstrong County, more than 400 families know the profound relief that comes when a community wraps its arms around those who need it most. Each month since مارس, 40 pounds of fresh food arrives like an answer to a prayer for these families as grocery prices rise beyond their reach.
“I’m very grateful,” says Colette, a retired resident on disability who recently discovered the program. Like many neighbors, she is finding grocery store prices impossible to manage on a fixed income. Now, with fresh apples, milk, eggs and produce, she has everything she needs to create meaningful meals.
Catherine echoes this sentiment: “I wouldn’t make it through the month without it. Now, I’m able to make it through the month with healthy food.” She’s proud to say that nothing she receives goes to waste as she shares extras with friends, embodying the holiday spirit of giving.
For Elizabeth, the program provides crucial support when food stamps run short. “I’m very grateful for what I get,” she says. Elizabeth especially appreciates the fresh potatoes, apples and lettuce that make nourishing meals possible.
This holiday season, these distributions show that food truly brings people together. Because of your support, more of our neighbors will enjoy a nourishing meal with their loved ones for the holiday. Thank you!
Giving Thanks
Our neighbors share heartfelt words about what your generosity means to them.
The fruits and vegetables … also the sides. I really appreciate it. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It really makes a lot of people’s day. – Taliyah
I work. Go to school. Everything’s expensive. Thank you, because there’s a lot of people that really need the help and it’s really good that people actually think about them. – Elbert
I’m 25. Trying to remake my foundation … I lost my job. I lost my food assistance. I lost means of transportation and everything, so it makes everything that much harder.
Every little bit helps. – Denise
To be able to at least go to bed with food, and to wake up and to know that you may have
food … that’s encouraging. So the Food Bank plays a really important part. It’s keeping people’s morale up. Their physical and their mental well-being. – Chef Ola