Grassroots efforts grow to help families in need

Amy Bocceri is no stranger to helping others.

During the covid-19 pandemic, she helped deliver meals to local students who couldn’t attend school in-person.

Now, she’s part of a growing trend of grassroots efforts that emerged across the region this year — not only for help with the holidays, but for everyday living.

Bocceri noticed families in Plum were struggling as many Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries began searching for alternative food sources last month while the federal government was shut down and SNAP payments were halted.

She decided to put a call out on social media for food and monetary donations.

The response she received was “massive,” Bocceri said. About 100 local people offered about $2,000 in donations and hundreds of boxes of food for those in need.

“The little idea I had in my mind just exploded,” she said.

Together with Hannah McKay, a social worker at Plum’s Pivik Elementary School, Bocceri helped distribute about 40 Thanksgiving dinners and more than 100 snack packs to district families.

She’s already planning a similar drive for the Christmas season.

“I may have had the idea, but it was the community that came through,” Bocceri said.

She isn’t alone in her efforts.

Increased grocery costs, combined with the recent lag in benefits for SNAP recipients, have taken a toll on families, said Gunney Dennison, president of Zodiac Motorcycle Club in Arnold.

This year, the club partnered with Arnold Mayor Shannon Santucci, owner of Lazarus Tomb outreach, also in Arnold, to provide free turkeys for those in need. They distributed the birds Tuesday, just in time for Thanksgiving.

“Everyone needs to step up,” Santucci said.

Turkeys and fixings were donated with help from St. George Orthodox Church, Bridges Over Poverty and Speed Family Blessing Box.

“We’ve been blessed. We couldn’t do this without our donors,” Santucci said. “If we want to continue free meals and clothes closets, we need people to keep stepping up.”

About 142,000 people in Allegheny County — about 11.4% — do not have enough food to eat, according to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

That’s one in nine people, and one in six children.

In Westmoreland County, almost 9.5% of the population — more than 40,000 people — suffer from food insecurity, according to the Westmoreland County Food Bank.

“This turkey event helps some unfortunate families that are having some trouble with the high food prices,” Dennison said.

His group sponsors fundraisers throughout the year to help veterans organizations. The retired Marine said club members also go to bat for kids at Christmas through a Toys for Tots collection. This year, they decided to branch out, given the demand for food.

“Families are in need,” he said.

In Brackenridge, bakers will do their part to help people in transitional housing and victims of domestic violence.

Coordinator Lori Miller organized a mammoth Christmas cookie exchange, scheduled for Dec. 6 at American Legion Post 226.

Nearly 50 bakers will each bring 11 dozen cookies to share and donate.

While more than 6,000 sweet treats will be swapped on site, some of the cookies will be shipped to soldiers in Guam and others will be donated locally to Family Promise House in Brackenridge and to the HOPE Center in Tarentum.

“In our own community, we know that not everybody gets a home-cooked meal or a treat,” Miller said.

“These people are in transition. The last thing they’re worried about is baking cookies. We think it’s nice to share some love right now.”

In Harrison, four high school friends are stepping up for the third year to put food on people’s tables for Christmas.

Organized by Chris Nemeth, Tom Schmaus, Kurt Shaffer and Joe Lucchino, the distribution will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18 in Patterson Hall at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Harrison.

“People seem like they’re on harder times than usual,” Schmaus said. “This is something we can do to give back.”

The Highlands alums each own businesses in the area and feel compelled to help their neighbors.

People simply need a pick-me-up, Schmaus said.

“The government was shut down and people were missing benefits,” he said. “We believe that, when government shuts down, community steps up.”

Their effort more than quadrupled, from 25 to 110 people, in its first two years. The group is aiming to double that this year.

While they sought food drop-offs to supplement the giveaway last year, they are seeking monetary donations this time around.

The logistics of storing 100 hams and all the fixings is a challenge.

“We want to make sure everyone gets the same exact bag full of stuff,” Schmaus said.

People are invited to “just show up” to receive a full meal in a box, complete with ham, canned veggies, instant mashed potatoes, stuffing, coffee and cookies.

“We don’t want them to feel bad about needing help,” he said. “We’re happy to do it.”

Donations can be made at Nemeth’s business, at 1009 Oregon Ave., Harrison, or by calling 724-681-7926.

Ozzy Samad is the president of the Brother’s Brother Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based aid organization that provides disaster relief and other support programs around the globe.

Recent struggles with delayed SNAP benefits and rising health care costs seem to have brought out an “underlying empathy” from the grassroots, he said.

“There definitely seems to be an enthusiasm for helping fellow people,” Samad said.

Especially in Western Pennsylvania, Samad said, he’s noticed a consistent willingness to lend a helping hand.

“People will step up, over and over again,” he said.