All Saints Church steps up to collect donations for Etna food pantry

The Bread of Life Food Pantry in Etna has tripled its donation dropoff days in order to meet the climbing demand for help from hungry families.

There has been a 33% spike in the number of people seeking food from the site at 94 Locust St., in the basement of Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church, pantry Manager Alexis Weber said.

Her group takes in food from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.

“We didn’t have enough volunteers up here to do it more days because the older people are understandably terrified of the pandemic,” Weber said.

So the religious leaders at All Saints Church along nearby Wilson Street stepped up.

Volunteers are collecting food donations in the recreation center three days a week: Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon.

“It’s been almost a year that they’ve allowed us to receive food down there,” Weber said.

“They store it and organize it and make sure it’s ready for distribution. It’s a true act of community taking care of community.”

The Rev. James Gretz, pastor of St. Matthew Parish of which All Saints Church is a member, said there is a history between the churches in Etna helping one another.

“The five of our churches here have worked together on various events, especially a Thanksgiving Eve service, so there is a good relationship,” Gretz said.

When the pandemic began, religious leaders discussed the growing need at Bread of Life.

“Since All Saints has a large gymnasium/hall as well as easy access to the street, we figured this was the place to do it,” Gretz said.

“People could drive down Church Alley, a volunteer could take the items from the trunk and the car could be on its way. We help others and keep contact to a minimum.”

As covid-19 lingered and more was learned about how the virus spread, All Saints and its large hall seemed the perfect solution as the food could be received, wiped down and left to sit, to “sanitize it,” Gretz said, until it is delivered to the pantry.

“It’s a perfect setup.”

Weber and Gretz each said donations have been impressive. About 140 families — up from 105 – get a box full of high-quality items that include cheese, produce and meat. At Thanksgiving, recipients got complete turkey dinners with all the fixings and at Christmas, everyone was given a ham.

“People were delighted,” Weber said. “One man was so worried whether he could afford a ham this year and the community really stepped up.

“People are still hurting but there are a lot of people who didn’t lose their jobs and want to contribute, and the generosity is unbelievable.”

Gretz said the Men’s Club that meets at All Saints purchased a plastic door to protect volunteers from the winter chill while they take deliveries. He also recalled a driver coming through and handing the volunteers a bag of $500 in Giant Eagle gift cards.

“It’s people helping people,” he said.