Neighbor Spotlight: Penn Hills resident follows passion at Lincoln Park Community Center Food Pantry

Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would like to nominate someone as a Neighbor Spotlight, see pennhillsprogress.com, select the “Post Story” button in the upper right corner and complete the form to publish your nomination. Questions? Email Neighborhood News Network editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.

Joyce Davis was surprised when she had more people asking for toilet paper than food at the Lincoln Park Community Center in Penn Hills.

It was the start of the pandemic early last year, and she found it interesting there was more excitement for the rolled up paper sheets than for a box of food. The high demand showed her how even the smallest things can truly help someone struggling.

“At first we laughed because we thought, ‘How is it toilet paper is more exciting than a bag of meat?’ Then we realized it was because people were struggling to find it,” Davis said.

Davis serves as the executive director of the Western PA Center for Just Solutions-Lincoln Park Community Center Food Pantry. Her 15 years working at the pantry has helped her understand the needs of the community and how to meet them.

“When you have someone who has to worry about their next meal, that does something to you,” Davis said.

At the pantry, people can come in to grab a cart and shop for foods, such as fresh veggies and meats, and personal hygiene and more but because of covid, the pantry had to restructure to becoming a drive-up pantry. Boxes are prepared in advance to hand out.

“We are hoping to get back to giving people choices for fresh vegetables,” Davis said.

With the help of 30-45 pantry volunteers throughout the year, Davis is able to accomplish her mission of helping those in need. She also lives a walkable distance from the pantry, giving her the chance to help those in need at any time.

Davis said the pantry serves an estimated 120 families a month. Some months the food is taken out into the community to serve additional people.

“I know how to persist. I care about people. I care about the needs of people,” she said.

Outside of the pantry, Davis volunteers her time to any event or volunteer opportunity open in Penn Hills including picking up litter.

Patricia Taylor, a volunteer at the pantry for eight years, marvels at the energy and determination Davis has to help those in the community.

“She does not care what day or time it is, if somebody calls her, she will make sure that person or family is fed,” Taylor said.

Penn Hills councilman John Petrucci has known Davis for more than a decade and admires her generous attitude.

“She is a role model for a lot of people. Without her, I don’t know where we’d be,” Petrucci said.

Davis said she does not want to take all the credit for running the pantry and taking care of the community.

“Everything we do, the volunteers are there doing it. I put the volunteers and their service first because they do the heavy lifting,” she said, “They’re not doing it to be seen, they’re doing it for the community.”