Westmoreland food bank benefits from annual United Way/Shop ‘n Save shopping spree
When David Sipes shot down the aisle at Route 66 Shop ‘n Save in Greensburg, buggy in tow, he had a game plan.
In three minutes, the 48-year-old Irwin resident had to collect as much food as possible to donate to the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Thursday’s shopping spree was part of the annual United Way fundraiser that donates food to the organization of the participant’s choosing.
For Sipes, that meant arriving at the store a half hour early in order to locate the items he hoped to donate.
“It means a lot,” he said. “The place I work for, Elliott Company, they do a lot for United Way, and it’s always good to help around the holidays. We need more people to donate, not only to the food bank, but to other places. I’m sure people are in much more need right now because of the holidays. Just happy to do it for a good cause.”
In all, he grabbed about $766 worth of items, including pouched and canned tuna, cereal, peanut butter and honey.
Sipes was able to participate in the shopping spree, which Charley Family Shop ‘n Save stores have participated in for over 10 years, through the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s donor prize program. After donating to the non-profit organization through the Elliott Company’s campaign, he was added to a pool of almost 2,000 people who qualified for the event.
Jennifer Miller, food bank CEO, said they have benefited from the program in the past, but added that it’s always an exciting experience.
“It means a lot,” Miller said. “We serve about 7,000 families a month, which equates to about 18,000 people. So that really goes a long way. We have food pantries all across Westmoreland County plus a lot of on-site feeding pantries.”
With food pantries ranging from New Kensington to Rostraver, the food bank has several programs including a backpack program, which sends kids home with food for the weekend, a senior food box program that supplies food to senior citizens monthly, and a military share program.
“We do see an increased need around the holidays,” Miller said. “Unfortunately, it seems like when they increase they stay and still need the help after the holidays. People aren’t just hungry around the holidays, they’re hungry all year through.”
After filling up two buggy’s worth of food, Sipes took a step back, catching his breath and taking a sip of water. At the end, Sipes was handed a $250 Shop ‘n Save gift card, which he promptly handed to his wife.
Food bank members filled up a van with the food, which will be sorted, repackaged and sent to food pantries, Miller said.
“Donate what you can,” Sipes said. “Try to help out.”
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