Part of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s mission is to mobilize our community to eliminate hunger in southwestern Pennsylvania. On June 1, following the death of George Floyd, our organization committed to being a champion for racial and social justice. No longer could we sit on the peripheral. With one of the root causes of food insecurity being racial inequality, our position as a non-profit leader in the community enables us to take meaningful action. In our statement, we included a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.”
Today, we take another step forward in our commitment to advocating for racial and social justice. With a goal of creating awareness and educating the communities we serve, the Food Bank will be providing our digital platform to organizations with missions focused on ending racism and inequality. Over the next three weeks we will be partnering with 1Hood Media, the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and the Pittsburgh YWCA’s Center for Race and Gender Equality to share each’s mission. We will do so through our website and social media channels, providing these platforms as information outlets for the organizations we partner with. Our goal is to continue this endeavor with multiple organizations over the next year.
Serving those in need for the past 24 years in my role here at the Food Bank, I know the love we as Pittsburghers have for one another. It’s that same love and unity that will enable us to conquer and eradicate racism. We as an organization commit to do our part to confront the issue of the inequitable and unfair treatment of people of color in our country. I encourage our employees, volunteers, corporate and community partners, donors and those we serve to join us in solidarity in support of the black community, not just in this moment, but always. “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Lisa Scales
President & CEO
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank