Ed is a longtime Food Bank supporter who recently used FreeWill to leave a bequest in his will to the Food Bank. With this gift, he wrote, “[a]s a child, we often lived on what was then known as government surplus. We were never starving, but I knew what it was to be hungry. So, in the early 2000s, I decided to focus my charitable giving on one charity and selected [the Food Bank].”
Ed explained that from a young age, his father instilled in him the value of giving to others. Even though they relied on government assistance at times, Ed’s father made sure to give back whenever he could. A favored charity was a children’s support organization in Omaha, Nebraska, where Ed’s father grew up in the 1920s. Ed said, “Money was tight, but even then, we always gave to charity.” Ed was the oldest of 6 kids. He remembered in the 40s and 50s the government’s initiative to buy milk and eggs from farmers as surplus and then give that surplus out as food assistance. Some may be aware of this program through the polarizing “government cheese” that anyone who received government assistance during those years is likely aware of. Ed’s family loved the cheese. He also remembered receiving canned meat, milk, and powdered eggs. He and his siblings disliked the canned meat and the “too sweet” milk but had an affinity for the powdered eggs.
Ed and his late wife both grew up in Johnstown. As a young man, Ed joined the Navy and moved to Washington D.C. His wife, Catherine, attended school to become a registered nurse, and in the 70s, Ed and Catherine moved back to Johnstown to raise their two children. In 1979, they moved to the Pittsburgh area when Ed got a job working for the United Way and Catherine began a 30-year career as a nurse at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Ed retired from the United Way in 2007, worked as a contractor until 2009, and then retired fully. It was at the United Way that Ed started donating to the Food Bank. The United Way had a workplace giving initiative that provided a list of organizations where employees could send their donations. Ed chose the Food Bank from that list because of his experience with food insecurity in childhood and because of his wife’s experience as a children’s nurse. He said they both were deeply affected by the stories his wife brought home of kids under her care who didn’t have enough to eat. Even during our conversation, Ed was emotional about that experience, saying, “it’s almost too much to even think about”. We agree.
Ed continued to donate to the Food Bank throughout his time at United Way, became a monthly donor and increased his donations when he retired in 2009. Now, Ed lives what he describes as “a very simple life”. He has downsized his home, and health issues keep him from getting out as much as he used to. Nevertheless, he continues to connect with our mission and support us. Ed’s bequest will allow his legacy to continue providing for the neighbors and children of southwestern Pennsylvania that he so deeply cares about. We are proud to continue that legacy in his honor and are grateful for his dedication to sharing his assets throughout his life and beyond. Ed is the embodiment of the incredibly caring group of individuals who support the Food Bank and the neighbors we serve. Thank you, Ed!