'Food Podcast': Groups band together to combat food insecurity

More than 37 million people nationwide — more than 11 percent of the U.S. population — lived in food insecure homes in 2018, according to USDA statistics released last month.

September was Hunger Action Month, and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank was the beneficiary of various fundraisers aimed addressing food insecurity, Brian Gulish, vice president of marketing and communications, said during this week’s “Food Podcast.”

• A WTAE telethon raised $122,755, including a $40,000 corporate match from Nova Chemicals and a $10,000 match from Carrie Holstead Real Estate.

• The Riverhounds hosted a Hunger Action Game, and Entercom Radio hosted a spaghetti breakfast.

• Table Magazine’s Lamb Fest benefited the Food Bank’s Green Grocer program.

Clearview Federal Credit Union is partnering with the food bank to present the weekly podcast. Clearview CEO Ron Celaschi joined Gulish, the podcast host, to discuss the partnership and the credit union’s charitable and volunteer impact locally.

“Our vision is to help people enjoy a better life,” Celaschi said. “We want to help feed the mind, the body, and the soul and the basic need of food is the one where we know we can make a significant impact.

“Our staff, whether it’s through Clearview or on their own, log their own volunteer hours throughout the year,” Celaschi added. “Our goal for 2019 is 10,000 volunteer hours.”

For more details about the food bank, visit www.pittsburghfoodbank.org.

LISTEN: Brian Gulish talks about Clearview Federal Credit Union's partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and its volunteerism in the region.