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 Somerset County
In Somerset County, hunger can be easy to overlook. Rolling farmland, small towns, and close-knit communities paint a picture of stability. Yet behind the scenery, nearly 9,500 neighbors—about 1 in 9—struggle with food insecurity. For children, the stakes are even higher, with 1 in 6 not knowing where their next meal might come from. And for older adults, the risks are deeply concerning: 13 percent of senior citizens live at or below the poverty line, making it difficult to afford groceries, prescriptions, or heating bills.
Food insecurity in Somerset County is driven by a combination of factors, including an aging population, high poverty rates, and rural isolation due to the natural landscape of the community. Approximately 24.5% of the county’s population is aged 65 and over, which is notably higher than the state average of 18.7% (health.pa.gov). Older adults often live on fixed incomes, have mobility issues, and face health conditions that require specialized and often expensive diets. As we’ve previously discussed, the rural nature of the county means that many residents live 30 minutes or more from their nearest grocery store, making transportation a significant barrier to accessing nutritious food. Lastly, low wages and a lack of employment opportunities in Somerset County, compounded by an increased cost of living, affect residents’ ability to cover basic needs. These combined factors create a complex landscape where food insecurity persists, particularly among vulnerable populations. 
Our Work in Somerset County
In Somerset County, we work with more than 36 partners including food pantries, hot meal programs and child nutrition partners to distribute food to neighbors who are food insecure. Together with our partners, we distribute more than 1.8 million meals annually, including 607,000 pounds of produce, to nearly 9,500 people. In addition, we’ve awarded more than $13,000 in impact grants to fund needs such as equipment, food and staff for our partners.
Our work would not be possible without our dedicated partners within Somerset County. Here’s a closer look at two of our partners doing amazing work:
Somerset Mobile Food Pantry
Somerset County Mobile Food Bank is an agency partner that was founded to alleviate the barriers for neighbors to get food in rural areas. They accomplish this goal through several programs including:
- A mobile food pantry that distributes food at nine conveniently located sites throughout the county. These events provide fresh produce and shelf-stable, refrigerated and frozen food;
- A home delivery program of pre-packed grocery boxes for neighbors with limited transportation;
- and providing food directly to neighbors in need of emergency assistance until they can get connected to a local pantry.
Helping Hands Food Pantry 
Helping Hands Food Pantry is a multifaceted partner serving all neighbors in the county including children, families and seniors. They directly support our neighbors through various initiatives, including:
- Hosting a drive-up distribution every Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM;
- Providing senior boxes to local seniors;
- Serving as a Summer Youth Café site, ensuring children have access to meals during the summer months when school is out;
- And distributing weekend backpacks filled with food for students.
Helping Hands Food Pantry is a cornerstone of the rural Somerset community, delivering exceptional service each year. They have even received our Child Hunger Heroes Award many times for their outstanding contributions to food security for kids.
Child Nutrition Partners
In addition to these partners, our Child Nutrition team works closely with school districts and other organizations in Somerset County that serve children. Together, we identify opportunities to participate in federal nutrition programs and share information about our own initiatives—such as School Pantries and the BackPack Program—that support kids facing food insecurity.
Read more about our school year programs
Each year, we celebrate and recognize the dedication of these partners through our Child Hunger Hero Awards, which honor school districts and community organizations making exceptional work to increase child food security across Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s service area. Partners throughout our 11-county service area are evaluated on their child nutrition programs including: school breakfast, summer food, afterschool meals, weekend meals, school pantries, and other child food security efforts.
This year, we’re proud to recognize several Somerset County partners for their outstanding commitment to ensuring children have the nutritious food they need to learn and thrive. Congratulations to:
- Berlin Brothersvalley School District – Bronze
- Camp Harmony – Silver
- Movement Collective – Silver
- Rockwood Area School District – Bronze
- Shade-Central City School District – Bronze
How You Can Help
There are many ways to get involved with our work in Somerset County. You can get involved with the Food Bank in two 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/
- Donating to support programs and operations that make our mission possible in Somerset 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 Somerset County? Visit our Food Finder Tool and type in “Somerset County” when prompted to enter an address or ZIP Code.