In a Time of Great Need, The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Rose to the Occasion
On a Sunday afternoon, my roommate and I drive to the local grocery store for our weekly food shopping; we’re careful not to take public transportation. As we park and don our face masks, we’re met with a line that wraps around the building.
“Ugh, is it even worth it?” My roommate moans.
“We’re running out of meat, we don’t have enough for the week,” I say, thinking about our pitiful freezer filled only with ice, half a pound of ground beef, frozen veggies, and a frozen pizza. “Come on, the line usually moves pretty fast.”
In about fifteen minutes we make it into the building.
Chicken-- check
Avocado-- check
Oil-- check
Fish-- check
I run through my list and it looks like I snagged all the essentials for the week. With the grocery list complete, it was time for the best part: goodies. We rummage through the frozen aisle-- ooh those frozen samosas are so good, my roommate chimes; added to the cart. Walk through the bakery-- fall just started, I gotta pick up some pumpkin cookies; added to the cart. Peruse the snack aisle-- I so have to have some popcorn; added to the cart.
I check out and my total was just about $70. Nice, not too shabby. This could probably last use about two weeks. I munch on some popcorn on the drive home.
I realize that my experience is extremely privileged in a normal year, but especially during a pandemic. According to Feeding America, there are 37,227,000 food insecure people based on 2018 numbers. However, Feeding America projects that this number will increase to an estimated 50,000,000 people by the end of 2020.
According to Feeding America, there are 37,227,000 food insecure people based on 2018 numbers. However, Feeding America projects that this number will increase to an estimated 50,000,000 people by the end of 2020.
According to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s Communications and Public Relations Specialist, Melissa Murray, both the Pittsburgh Food Bank and their parent company, Feeding America, have seen a dramatic increase in food demand.
“Food insecurity in Southwest, PA, the area that we serve, went up 42 percent,” Murray said. “The amount of food we distributed has gone up 30 percent.”
Because COVID continues to wreak havoc on the global economy, many companies have greatly downsized, leaving many without a job in a market oversaturated by other unemployed people. As a result, individuals who have previously never been food insecure now rely on food pantries for their next meals.
While my roommate and I complain about our oh-so-terrible fifteen minute wait on the grocery store line, cars were lined outside the food bank for 30 or more minutes.
“In the beginning, it was really overwhelming,” Murray said. “There were lines of cars that were backed up onto main roads. There were so many people trying to get access to food.”
But while people struggled to get food on the table, the food banks were struggling to bring food on their shelves. The USDA admits that there was a significant disruption to the food supply change when the first lockdowns began.
Murray said that the Pittsburgh Food Bank struggled with getting the food they needed in the midst of a food shortage. The food bank was unable to accept food donations due to health safety, and many food distributors were more concerned with sending food to grocery stores than food banks.
“We had 55 truckloads [of food] either canceled or delayed or never showed up because of what was happening with the supply chain,” Murray said. “So we ended up having to buy food at way higher prices than we were used to.”
But the Pittsburgh Food Bank responded to the increased demand enormously well. With the help of a strong leadership team, the Pittsburgh Food Bank has been able to rise to the occasion and continue to serve their district.
Murray recognizes the dedication of her team who often worked overtime to quickly accommodate their community members. During the beginning months, the food bank discussed how to serve even the most vulnerable such as the elderly or those without safe transportation.
We were meeting every single day, whether that was a Sunday afternoon or a Tuesday night
“We were meeting every single day, whether that was a Sunday afternoon or a Tuesday night,” Murray said. “I give credit to our executive team because they met every single day for hours and hours a day.”
The Pittsburgh Food Bank, almost overnight, overhauled their old system and created a drive-up distribution system, hired temporary workers to pack and stock food and began a food delivery system.
Since March 16th, the Food Bank has distributed a total of 28 billion pounds of food.
Donate to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/gbfdef2st/info/header_button/?_ga=2.109734470.2129357912.1607151527-1300064415.1604956048