Sharpsburg, Etna, Millvale ramp up efforts to connect residents with food resources

Leaders in Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale are ramping up efforts to help people struggling after a government pause of SNAP benefits and an overall increase in grocery costs.

A list of food resources was developed to help people in need across the tri-borough area.

“We’ve had so many more people stopping by the office to ask where they can turn for help,” said Jodi Klebick, executive director of the Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization. “This is a tough time going into the holidays, and I’m proud that everyone got together and dove in to take advantage of this network.”

A food resources map is available at bit.ly/3L7Ol2w.

It provides places to find pantries, daily meals, baby food and clothing assistance for people in crisis.

“To say these are tough times is an understatement,” said Alexis Weber, director of the Bread of Life Food Pantry. “It’s been very challenging but, you know, it’s brought out the best in people, too, with donations.”

A government pause on food stamps at the beginning of November magnified the struggles of those with food insecurity, Weber said.

Her pantry, located inside Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church in Etna, is going full-steam about six days a week. Where they usually help 120 families a month, they already had met that total midway through November.

Fortunately, donations have matched the need, Weber said.

“It’s just been phenomenal with people trying to help fellow neighbors,” she said. “People are always generous, but it has been more than usual.”

Before Thanksgiving, pantry clients were receiving a turkey and a $25 grocery gift card in addition to the usual bounty of meat, eggs, cheese, produce and nonperishables.

“They’ll have a full holiday dinner,” Weber said. “No one is turned away. When the government doesn’t care, people step up to the plate.”

A total of 142,000 people in Allegheny County — about 11.4% — do not have enough food to eat, according to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. That’s 1 in 9 people, and 1 in 6 children.

At Sharpsburg Community Library, manager Sara Mariacher said generosity has increased with need. There have been more frequent donations to the site’s free pantry table, which is filled three times a week.

About 50 items, all first-come, first serve, are available during library hours. Mariacher said the goods are usually gone by the end of each day.

The library also provides toiletries such as soap, shampoo and toilet paper through an application basis.

“As more folks have become aware of the current issues surrounding SNAP and cost of living, we’ve been receiving increased items from residents,” Mariacher said. “We actually have more items in our pantry storage at the moment than we have ever had since we started offering this service.”