Democratic Women to collect for food bank, family shelter

Like so many other activitities and events over the past 10 months, the covid pandemic has affected volunteer opportunities at the National Day of Service on Monday, the national holiday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Colleges and universities in the region that might have volunteer opportunities for students and staff on National Day of Service are not in session. Univerities starting later month or February are holding their volunteer initiatives next month.

At Seton Hill University, the start of the spring semester has been pushed back until Feb. 2. The university typically delays its National Day of Service because of is semester schedule, said Jennifer Reeger, Seton Hill spokeswoman.

The university will hold on-campus events in late February, in which students will have a variety of opportunities to volunteer their servies, Reeger said.

With the start of Saint Vincent College’s second semester pushed back to Feb. 8,ghe college will not be sponsoring any student service activities on Monday. But, the college will commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. upon the return of students to campus with events during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Feb. 8 to 13, said Jim Berger, college spokesman.

The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg will not have any student activities on Monday because students have been asked to remain at home for the beginning of classes, said Susan Isola, UPG spokeswoman.

Volunteer initiatives that will be held on Monday include efforts to assist two food banks in the region — the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne and the Westmoreland County Food Bank in Delmont — and a family shelter in Greensburg.

The Democratic Women of Westmoreland County on Monday will collect nonperishable food for the Westmoreland County Food Bank and cleaning supplies for the Welcome Home emergency family shelter in Greensburg as part of the National Day of Service.

“We chose these two (organizations) because we felt they have been the most impacted by the pandemic,” said Carol Mintus, a member of the Democratic Women’s club, which has about 80 members.

The aid to the Westmoreland County Food Bank comes at a time after the holidays when the food insecurity remains, but the pre-holiday drives for the food bank are over, said Jennifer Miller, chief executive of county food bank.

“Last year, the (number of) food bank drives were down tremendously,” because of the covid pandemic, Miller said. “This (food bank drive) is important and is very much appreciated.”

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is seeking volunteers Monday to help pack boxes at its warehouse in Duquesne for distribution to needy families to get the boxes at drive-up distributions in the region, said Lisa Scales, chief executive officer of the food bank.

Scales said they have reached out to the United Way of Southwestern Pensylvania, the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh and the Aaron Donald 99 Foundtion to help recruit volunteers on Monday.

Because of the pandemic, the volunteer opportunities were eliminated in March and the food bank had to rely on the Pennsylvania National Guard to help in the distribution. They reopened for volunteers in June, “but we still need volunteers,” Scales said.

Some of those volunteers are needed on a third food-box packing line that operates from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at its warehouse, Scales said. Volunteers also are needed to assist at the drive-by food distributions, she noted.

Those interested in voluntering can contact the food bank through its website, https://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/get-involved/volunteer/.

Westmoreland food drive

Donations can be dropped off at at the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee office at 903 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Volunteers will collect donations of items and money at tables outside the building, to allow for social distancing.

The Democratic Women group normally does some sort of drive each year, said Mintus, who is vice president of the organization.

“In recent years, we have adopted an active-­duty soldier and collected items to send to him or her. We have previously collected for the homeless shelter,” Mintus said.

The food bank is seeking nonperishable “most need” items, such as canned tuna or chicken, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruit and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, boxed meals like Hamburger Helper or rice and canned meals such as stew.

The shelter’s “most needed” items are cleaning products such as window cleaner, bleach and all-purpose cleaners and spray cleaning products; laundry detergent, with pods preferred; black garbage bags, dish washing soap, air fresheners, cases of water and bed pillows.

Those who want to make a monetary donation can write a check to the organization they want to support — the Westmoreland County Food Bank or to Connect Inc., operator of the shelter — and take them to the Democratic Committee’s Greensburg office.

Checks also can be mailed to the food bank at 100 Devonshire Drive, Delmont, PA 15626, or to the shelter at 218 S. Main St., Suite 200, Greensburg, PA 15601.