Beyond the Table – Washington County

Dans cette série, Au-delà de la tablenous explorons les causes profondes de la faim dans notre zone de service, nous mettons en lumière les défenseurs qui travaillent à résoudre ces problèmes et nous partageons les moyens que vous pouvez utiliser pour nous aider à trouver des solutions à long terme pour nos communautés. Ensemble, nous pouvons aller au-delà de la table et travailler à un avenir où chacun dispose des ressources dont il a besoin pour s'épanouir.

Hunger in Washington County 

Like many of the other rural counties we’ve discussed in this series, Washington County faces significant food insecurity driven by both economic and structural challenges. Low wages and poverty force many households to choose between food and other essentials such as housing, utilities, and healthcare, while limited public transportation and long distances to grocery stores and food pantries restrict access to nutritious options. Rising food costs further strain tight budgets, and gaps in SNAP eligibility or benefit levels leave some families without sufficient support, contributing to ongoing hunger across the county.

Across the county, more than 26,000 individuals—about 1 in 8 neighbors—are currently facing hunger. Among them are 1 in 6 children who may not have consistent access to nutritious food, and 8 percent of seniors living below the poverty line and may be struggling to stretch their fixed incomes to cover the essentials.  

Our Work in Washington County 

In Washington County, we work with 34 partners to close that gap. Through a network of food pantries, hot meal programs, and child nutrition partners, we distribute nearly 2.6 million pounds of food each year, the equivalent of 2.2 million meals. Remarkably, 1 million pounds of that food is fresh produce—a critical source of vitamins and nutrients for families who might otherwise go without. 

Food insecurity isn’t a problem that any one organization can solve alone—it’s a community challenge that demands community solutions. School districts, local nonprofits, volunteers and donors all play a role in keeping food on the table and hope within reach. Last year, we supported our network by awarding more than $50,000 in impact grants to fund needs such as equipment, food and staff. 

In addition to working alongside our partner network, we distribute food directly to neighbors in Washington county through monthly drive-up distributions in Charleroi and Washington. 

This year, we launched a new initiative called the Washington County Working Group to bring together a diverse coalition of organizations to identify the barriers neighbors face in accessing food and to develop collaborative solutions to address them. We recognize that each community experiences food insecurity in unique ways, and that lasting solutions can only be achieved through partnership and shared problem-solving. 

Meet Our Partner, Community Circle Food Pantry 

Community Circle Food Pantry in Washington County is run by a dedicated director and passionate volunteers making a big impact. Open three days a week, they serve around 680 families monthly and distributed over 230,500 meals last year. Operating on a small budget, they rely on community support and go beyond food distribution by fostering a welcoming environment and partnering with other agencies.

They moved to a new building in 2023 to accommodate more neighbors and recently expanded to add three more rooms with extra storage and bathrooms. This new space has allowed them to start offering non-food items like clothing, toys and personal care products. The Food Bank supported the expansion by purchasing new cold storage units and a stacker jack to help volunteers handle larger quantities efficiently. 

Comment vous pouvez aider

There are many ways to get involved with our work in Washington County. You can get involved with the Food Bank in two simple ways:  

1. 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/ 
2. Volunteering at a Washington County distribution. 
3. Donating to support programs and operations that make our mission possible in Washington 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 Washington County? Visit our Food Finder Tool and type in “Washington County” when prompted to enter an address or ZIP Code.