In this series, Beyond the Table, we explore the root causes of hunger across our service area, spotlight the advocates working to address those issues and share ways you can join in to help us seek long-term solutions for our communities. Together, we can go beyond the table and work toward a future where everyone has the resources they need to thrive.
Hunger in Lawrence County
Lawrence County is rich in history, deeply rooted in the steel and manufacturing industries. It offers the small-town charm that residents love, alongside the natural beauty of the region. While farming remains a strong presence, the county has diversified into sectors like healthcare, education, and small businesses. The county’s economy is largely driven by New Castle, its main town, with the rest of the county being primarily rural.
As we’ve described in previous blog series, rural counties often have the highest food insecurity rates. In Lawrence County, hunger is closer to home than many realize. Today, more than 11,600 people—about 1 in 7 neighbors—face food insecurity. The crisis is especially heartbreaking for children: 1 in 5 kids may not have enough to eat. And for older adults, the picture is no less stark, with 9 percent of seniors living below the poverty line and struggling to afford groceries alongside other essentials like rent, prescriptions and utilities.
Supporting Families in Lawrence County
In rural areas like this, food access can be a daily challenge. In Laurel School District, a rural farming area, the nearest grocery store can be a 15- to 20-minute drive away. For families without reliable transportation, that distance becomes an obstacle to consistent, healthy meals. Many households earn just above the threshold for free or reduced meal programs, leaving children caught in the middle—too “ineligible” for assistance, yet still going without.
Carrie Bonyak, the district’s food service director, has seen this firsthand. “I know there might be a kid that is not eating because their parents don’t have enough money to feed them,” she explains. “Sometimes you get a call from mom saying that they hit their own piggy bank to eat that day, and that hits you when you know that mom and dad don’t have the means and they don’t qualify, so the child’s taken upon themselves to make sure they get a meal. You know they’re going through their couch cushions, vacuuming the car, to hand you 75 cents for breakfast and it’s all in pennies.” Stories like this highlight how hunger is not just about the absence of food—it’s about gaps in access, affordability and support systems that leave families to shoulder impossible burdens.
We work closely with the Laurel School District to ensure children and their families have access to food, we support them by awarding impact grants for equipment and other essential items for their food programs.
Our Work in Lawrence County
In Lawrence County, we work with more than 43 partners including food pantries, hot meal programs and child nutrition partners to distribute food to neighbors who are food insecure. Last year, we awarded nearly $7,700 in impact grants to our partners in the county to support them. Impact grants fund needs such as equipment, food and staff. 
We also host a drive-up distribution in New Castle, Lawrence County where neighbors are able to stay in their vehicle and receive a family sized portion of food including produce, proteins and milk.
Through our distributions and partner network in Lawrence County, we distributed nearly 2.4 million meals or the equivalent of 2.1 million pounds, including more than 887,000 pounds of fresh produce to 3,200 neighbors.
How You Can Help
There are many ways to get involved with our work in Lawrence County. You can get involved with the Food Bank in three simple ways:
- Advocating for anti-hunger policies with your local and state officials that help neighbors facing food insecurity. Start by signing up for our Advocacy Newsletter to receive timely alerts on current actions and ways to alleviate food insecurity. https://pittsburghfoodbank.org/get-involved/advocate/
- Volunteering at a Lawrence County distribution.
- Donating to support programs and operations that make our mission possible in Lawrence County. Every $1 donated to the Food Bank can help provide up to 3 meals to neighbors in need. Unlike going to the grocery store, we work directly with manufacturers, retailers, local farmers and government agencies to source foods in mass quantities (some of which would have otherwise gone to waste) for distribution.
Are you in need or want to give back to an organization in Lawrence County? Visit our Food Finder Tool and type in “Lawrence County” when prompted to enter an address or ZIP Code.