Food bank student volunteer organizes collection drives of his own in Murrysville

Garrett Deller of Murrysville was volunteering with the Westmoreland County Food Bank through his membership in the Franklin Regional National Honor Society, but the high school junior decided he wanted to take it a step farther.

“One of the older volunteers mentioned that donations were down because of the covid pandemic,” Deller said. “So one day at dinner, my dad and I were talking about starting a community support group to help with food security.”

That led to the formation of Westmoreland Families Against Hunger, which holds a food drive for the county food bank every other week in Murrysville, in the clubhouse parking lot of Westmoreland Farms, 100 Clubhouse Lane.

“Gina Colosimo from the food bank mentioned that the smaller, individual food drives are also down, and that even if we collected an SUV full, a pallet, anything helps them,” Deller said.

Deller also tapped other National Honor Society members to set up additional neighborhood collection points, and as a member of the high school basketball team, he’s working with the athletic department to have the high school serve as a central collection point.

“He won’t have any problem getting that approved,” said Superintendent Gennaro Piraino. “We’re excited to work with him in putting it together.”

Deller said he’s also willing to arrange pickups for residents who want to donate but aren’t able to make it on a food drive day. The food drives will continue through March, when Deller said he’ll see where the pandemic is at and what the demand for food donation is like.

School board member Ed Mittereder, who brought the idea to the school district, said he’s excited to see Deller’s initiative.

“My hat is off to him,” Mittereder said. “It’s nice to see young people step up to the plate.”

Food drives are from 9 a.m. to noon, every other Saturday at the Westmoreland Farms clubhouse parking lot, 100 Clubhouse Lane off of Wheatland Circle in Murrysville. The next food drive will be Jan. 9. To arrange a donation pickup, email dellergarrett@gmail.com.