Pittsburgh Food Bank responding to covid-19 needs in variety of ways

Since mid-March, images of long lines of cars waiting for boxes of food being distributed by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank have become a common sight.

“I know that in March our pantry network contributed a million more pounds of food than it did the previous March,” said food bank President and CEO Lisa Scales.

What may not be as familiar to the pandemic-addled public are the other ways those in need can obtain food. And the food bank wants people to know about all of the resources it has available.

One of those resources is the food bank’s new Doorstep Delivery program. The program utilizes both volunteers of the food bank and 412 Food Rescue, as well as professional delivery and transportation services, to bring a 25-pound box of “shelf stable” food to the doorstep of the individuals most vulnerable during the covid-19 crisis.

Scales said so far, 35,000 pounds of food has been delivered to nearly 1,400 homes in the region through this program.

“We are committed to doing our best to meet the needs of the community both on a daily basis and throughout the current covid-19 crisis,” Scales said. “For some of our neighbors that means that we need to meet them where they are by bringing food right to their doorstep.

“With the current social-distancing guidelines, the food bank is focusing on new ways to get food to our neighbors who need it most.”

While the contents of the boxes vary, items include canned fruits and vegetables, juice and/or shelf-stable milk, starches such as potatoes, pasta and pasta sauce or pancake mix, and proteins such as peanut butter, beans, beef stew or canned chicken or tuna.

“On top of that we are serving people who walk up to our facility, we’re enrolling more people than ever in SNAP (food stamps), we’re partnering with the public schools in summer to provide grab-and-go meals, and we’re partnering with other nonprofits who have not been in our network,” Scales said.

People in need of food assistance should call the food bank at 412-460-3663, ext. 655. The organization’s covid-19 concierge team is fielding calls from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.

Or go to pittsburghfoodbank.org/gethelp. Scales said they have now had over 22,000 views of this page.

“More than anything, that’s an indicator of how much need there is.”