Rosedale Food Pantry gets financial boost from Giant Eagle

Verona Giant Eagle’s inaugural donation drive for the Rosedale Food Pantry netted more than $2,800 for the Penn Hills-based nonprofit.

Money was raised throughout January and food bank volunteers recently accepted the check.

Senior Store Leader George Sears said Giant Eagle employees and owners, the Rosenberg and Thimons families, were happy to help a community organization.

“The food bank is local,” Sears said. “The people the food bank supports are our neighbors. This was the first year for the fundraising campaign and we raised over $2,000. We try and make it fun with our team members. Also, (we) make them aware that their fundraising effort not only helps raise money for a food bank, but may help put food on their own neighbor’s table that may be going through a difficult time.”

Food Pantry Director John Dick thanked Giant Eagle for the support, and said the money will help with food purchases.

Giant Eagle also donates produce and other foods when possible.

“It’s great,” said Dick. “It seems like we’re establishing a good relationship with them.”

The pantry, which serves 170 families a week on average, gets most of its food from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne.

Dick and his wife, Judy, started the pantry in Plum in 1990 at what is now called Amplify Church. They moved to the Rosedale United Methodist Church in the early 2000s.

It serves families from Penn Hills, Verona, Oakmont, Plum and some from Harmar, Cheswick and Blawnox.

They acquired a new Ford F-650 box truck last year through a grant as well as a walk-in freezer to help transport and store more food.

“We are doing good,” Dick said. “Always something needs done.”

It is open the first through fourth Wednesday of the month from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Any organization that wants to have a food or funds drive for the pantry can call 412-302-2509. To donate, make checks out to “Rosedale Food Pantry” to 448 Geisler Drive, Pittsburgh 15221.