This year’s Attorneys Against Hunger Campaign, sponsored by the Allegheny County Bar Foundation, raised more money than ever before — enough to provide as many as 113,000 meals.

From November through the end of the May, the program collected more than $146,000 — the most in its 28-year history — bringing its total to nearly $2.2 million.

One hundred percent of the money raised goes to agencies in need, according to Bill Stang, who has co-chaired the campaign for 10 years. This year, the money was divided among 17 local food assistance agencies.

”We feel like we’re lucky to be able to give back to our community, that we live in and care about,” Stang said.

One of the most rewarding parts of the Attorneys Against Hunger Campaign, he said, is being able to see immediate results in real time.

The committee holds about five outreach programs each year — going to local food assistance agencies to help prepare and serve meals, clean up or stock shelves.

They usually hold an annual event at Rainbow Kitchen in Homestead, where they help serve a special holiday meal on a Saturday.

Often, according to Rainbow Kitchen executive director Donna Little, it is a Valentine’s Day or Easter brunch.

“It gives them the opportunity to really see the difference that they’re making,” she said. “It puts a human face on hunger in our community.”

Rainbow Kitchen received $7,320 from the campaign this year, Stang said.

Little said her organization has received funding from Attorneys Against Hunger for 15 years.

“We are really grateful to be one of the recipient agencies of their efforts,” she said. “They’re serious about this. It raises people’s awareness so much.”

Sometimes, Stang said, an organization might need funds for a new freezer, or other equipment to help prepare or serve meals.

“Everything is hunger related,” he said.

Over the past year, Stang said, the pandemic created even more food insecurity, and he believes the legal community saw that need and responded.

“There’s a tremendous amount of food inequity in this country,” he said.

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program served nearly 40 million people in 2020, according to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

During 2020, Little said, Rainbow Kitchen served 887 households. Of those, 346 were new and had never accessed a food pantry before.

In total, they distributed more than 481,000 pounds of food and supplemental groceries — a 60% increase over the year before.

“It could be anyone,” Little said. “It’s been really extraordinary with regard to the extra need that we see.”

Rainbow Kitchen, which serves Homestead, West Homestead, Munhall, Duquesne, West Mifflin and Whitaker, also provides one meal each day, Monday through Friday. As part of that program, Little said, they provided 18,220 meals in 2020 — with a large increase in the number of children served.

“Many of the new people are still in need,” she said.

Stang said that the average raised by the campaign each year is about $100,000, and the money comes only from people in the legal community — mostly through fundraising letters, email marketing or committee meetings.

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank received the largest grant of $22,000.

“We have had a longstanding partnership with the Allegheny County Bar Foundation,” said Lisa Scales, food bank president and CEO. “Together we are ensuring a brighter future for our neighbors who struggle with food insecurity.”

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