Oakmont food drive collected goods for hundreds of families

An Oakmont family’s food drive has collected enough goods to support hundreds of people in the borough and surrounding towns.

The fifth annual Thanksgiving drive by the Hummel family concluded Tuesday at their business, Rev 22 Juice & Wellness Bar powered by Salud Juicery. It is in the former Oakmont Bakery building along Allegheny Avenue.

The drive benefits the food pantry at Penn Hills’ Rosedale Methodist Church, which helps an average of 170 families a week from Penn Hills, Verona, Oakmont, Plum and Blawnox.

Volunteer Dave Parry of Oakmont picked up one of at least five pickup truck loads of donations from the shop this month.

“This is a lot more than I thought,” Parry said. “This is real good. I didn’t think it’d be this much. Every little bit helps, and this is a lot here.”

Parry said the pantry serves more than 200 families a week during the holiday season.

There were cases of stuffing mix, cereal, tomato sauce, gravy and Chef Boyardee to go along with the multitude of boxes filled with baking supplies such as flour, sugar and other mixes.

Howard Hanna and Dinnin & Parkins Associates were two major business contributors each with a truck load of food. The drive also collected hundreds of dollars in monetary donations.

A Plum woman, who was not named, dropped off eight bags full of materials for families to make cookies. The bags included a red ribbon and a tag from “Mrs. Claus.”

Rev 22 is owned by Larry Hummel, his daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Jordan Taradash.

The food drive is largely organized by Larry’s wife, Lori Hummel.

It was originally scheduled to end Nov. 16 but was extended a day due to overwhelming support.

Lori Hummel said they support Rosedale Food Pantry because they help local families and their volunteers are great to work with.

“They don’t turn anybody away,” she said. “They’re just great. They’re community supporters. I think some people are in trouble or lost their jobs. It’s sad, but people are in need. We’re very blessed. Oakmont’s a good town and people are very supportive. I thank everyone who looked into their own hearts to help someone else.”

The family’s food drive used to be one day, but they decided to expand it this year due to the pandemic to allow more people to donate over time instead of everyone coming at once.

“We’ve never collected this amount of food before in one night,” Lori Hummel said. “So, I’m going to continue to do it this way because it seemed like the better way to do it.”

The Hummels also have a winter clothing drive in January. Coats of all shapes and sizes, along with gloves and other apparel will be needed.