Monroeville Rotary uses fundraiser proceeds to help combat hunger

Monroeville Rotary’s Taste of Spring fundraiser netted $8,200 to fight hunger in the community.

Approximately 125 people gathered at Events on Ten in the Jonnett Building to make the event the largest Rotary fundraiser in recent years. Fourteen vendors and multiple sponsors assisted.

“We are thrilled to say that the event was a success,” President Diane Milowicki said. “We knew that we wanted to donate (the funds) to organizations who are working to address food insecurities and hunger.”

During Rotary’s June meeting, Milowicki presented checks to six local programs.

“It’s about making a difference in the lives of people,” she said.

Cross Roads Food Pantry

Established in 1977, the food pantry at Cross Roads Presbyterian Church serves approximately 150 families, or about 500 individuals.

The pantry is open every Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. by appointment. Families are provided packaged items but there is a shopping area as well. Occasionally, they have specialty items, such as pie filling and sauces. The pantry has between 30 and 50 volunteers; Director Sue Lomeo has been in her position for a year.

Cross Roads gets much of the food from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, both free and purchased at a discount. Lomeo stated that they were told that next year, there will be fewer free items and prices for others will increase.

“We rely on those donations more now than ever,” Lomeo added. “The support of the Rotary has been invaluable.”

Meals on Wheels

Dan Casey is the program director at Meals on Wheels, established in 1972. He is the only full-time employee and does the cooking, inventory and scheduling of volunteers and clients.

“It’s more than just food, we are also checking in on (clients),” Casey said.

Every Meals on Wheels location is different. Some receive prepared food while others cook their meals.

“We are more of a scratch kitchen,” Casey said. There are 30 to 35 volunteers – some of whom are Rotarians – who deliver food and prepare bagged meals.

The organization services Monroeville, Pitcairn, Wall, Wilmerding, Trafford and Level Green. They do not receive government funding, so clients are asked to pay $5 per day, in which they receive one hot meal and one bagged meal.

“We greatly appreciate all of the help that the Rotary has done, all of the donations they’ve given us, over the years,” Casey said.

PHamily Student Athlete Food Pantry

Penn Hills High School is home to the PHamily Food Pantry, which provides meals to student athletes who go to practice or games directly after school. Every student gets an entrée, fruit, one snack and a beverage. This past school year, the pantry saw 310 students and there were 11,459 visits.

“It’s not just about the food,” volunteer Jane Marra said. “But also about the connections with the students and getting these kids encouraged to go out and achieve great things.”

Reclamation Community Center Food Pantry

Tom Mitlo is founder and executive director of Reclamation Community Center. Their walk-through food pantry is set up similar to a grocery store, where residents can select their own items.

“We just try to make the experience as positive and smooth as possible for our patrons,” Mitlo said.

The center is also home to Diapers Books (free child and adult size diapers and children’s books), Sheep Inc. (free health clinic), Haven Child Care Center, Celebrate Recovery (spiritual 12-step program) as well as several resources for military veterans.

The food pantry is available to Monroeville, Pitcairn and Trafford residents and is open the second and fourth Saturday of each month.

Gateway Backpack Program

University Park Elementary Principal Jennifer Hoffner and Superintendent Guy Rossi were represented Gateway School District and its Backpack Program.

“We want to help students to be successful academically, physically and emotionally by providing that need,” Hoffner said.

Every week, approximately 175 backpacks are filled with nonperishable groceries for food-insecure students to take home for the weekend. Backpacks are generally packed by members of Interact Club and National Honor Society.

Garden City Food Bank

The Garden City Food Bank is located at Garden City United Methodist Church.

The indoor food pantry is open the second Thursday of every month from 9 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. In November, a community refrigerator was added; it is located in an outbuilding adjacent to the pantry. It is open at all times to anyone in need.