Dear Friend,
I love reading about folks like Carol, Joe, Mark, and Sandy — neighbors who benefit from your support of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
These neighbors also represent a vital — and rapidly growing — demographic of the people we serve: seniors. In fact, 1 in 4 people that the Food Bank serves is over the age of 60. That’s more than 13,000 seniors each month!
That includes right here in the 11 counties we serve. Your kindness as one of our dedicated monthly donors helps provide the meals these seniors need.
I hope you’ll consider making an extra one-time donation today. Every $1 can help provide 3 meals!
Gratefully,
Lisa Scales
President and CEO
I Couldn’t Ask For More!
Carol loves to cook, and if she had her own way, she’d be preparing food for others.
When her husband passed away in 2015, Carol tried to supplement her suddenly diminished income by starting her own in-home baking business.
“I’m a good cook, especially at baking things,” says Carol, 76. But due to declining health — including bad knees — that venture didn’t pan out.
So, instead of feeding others, Carol found herself in need of food. She contacted the Food Bank’s Call Center and explained her situation. Carol says “a really, really nice lady” helped her get SNAP benefits and assistance with her utilities. She’s also a regular at our drive-up food distributions.
“The assistance I’ve gotten from the Food Bank is just outstanding,” she says. “I couldn’t ask for more.”
Carol says “not a day goes by that I don’t use products from the Food Bank, or something I bought with SNAP, to prepare meals. I don’t know how I could do it without the Food Bank!”
And as it turns out, Carol often shares what she makes with others. She’s serving after all!
“Believe me when I tell you, the Food Bank is absolutely essential for my well-being,” Carol says. “So please don’t go away!”
We’re not going anywhere, Carol, thanks to our generous supporters!
A Grateful Family
Joe was a carpenter for decades… until a 2010 workplace accident almost killed him.
A serious head injury resulted in a brain hematoma — and an early involuntary retirement. His doctor’s astute medical advice: “Just don’t hit your head again.”
Joe had to leave the woodworking behind, and the income that went with it. He now lives solely on Social Security and SNAP benefits, “and it just doesn’t cut it,” Joe says. His wife works, but they’re barely making ends meet. “We get the bills paid,” he says.
But after the bills, there’s not much left for groceries. So Joe is super grateful for the Food Bank’s drive-through distributions.
“Thank you,” he said recently after picking up some food and essentials. “It means a lot.”
Your goodness helps brings hope and peace to seniors like Joe and his wife.
Volunteering: “A No-Brainer”
Joe will never forget the scene. He was working as a volunteer at the Families Matter Food Pantry, one of our partners.
It was a drive-through distribution on a terribly cold day. Recipients picked up their food boxes without having to leave the warmth of their vehicles.
Then Joe saw them — an entire family, barely bundled in the bitter cold, huddled together walking toward him. They didn’t have a car, but they needed food.
“I learned that they had walked about a mile to get here,” he says. “And then they had to walk home. Seeing what people are willing to do just to get food … Well, volunteering here is a no-brainer for me.”
Same for his friend and fellow volunteer, Jim. Joe and Jim both regularly serve the pantry through a ministry at their church, St. Francis Cabrini in Aliquippa.
Jim, a veteran, first started volunteering because Families Matter distributes food to vets on Mondays. “I just wanted to help them,” he says.
Jim returns to the pantry on Thursdays with his wife to volunteer again.
“It’s a joy to serve,” he says. “I get joy out of giving food to people. I enjoy seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they get the food. It makes your heart pump!”
Joe, who also brings his wife on Thursdays to volunteer, agrees.
“There’s a lot of people who need help,” he says. “That’s why we come.”
Jim and Joe don’t plan on quitting anytime soon.
Says Jim, “We’ll probably do it till we can’t walk anymore!”
We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for our volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer with us, click here.
Grateful For You
Sandy and Mark of Penn Hills are still adjusting to life after careers. Sandy was a floral designer; Mark was a chef and restaurant food salesman.
Now that they’re retired, they’re getting used to living on a limited income.
“We’re on Social Security,” Sandy explains, “and that’s not much.”
The couple often runs out of money by the end of the month, and they’re forced to choose between paying bills and buying groceries.
“It’s always a fight to decide which to do,” says Mark. Adds Sandy, “Sometimes we pull a name out of a hat to choose what bills to pay.”
She was only half-joking.
Fortunately, they don’t have to choose to go hungry, because they take advantage of our drive-through food distributions. That gets them through the end of the month, and then some.
What do they appreciate most about the Food Bank? To Mark, the answer’s simple: “Being able to feed our families.”
Thank you for helping to provide for couples like Sandy and Mark!