Food Podcast: Swissvale Community Food Pantry serves hundreds in surrounding community

Note: The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is featuring several of its Black partners and volunteers during Black History Month.

The Swissvale Community Food Pantry serves hundreds of individuals and families from Swissvale and several surrounding communities. Nelson Kirksey, the pantry’s coordinator, said he is proud to provide food to them every month.

“We do have quite a few Black households — families and singles — that come through our pantry,” he said. “We don’t keep track of racial identity, but we understand what we see.”

Kirksey said about half of Swissvale’s population is Black, while the other half is white, Hispanic or other. He has seen people of all backgrounds come to the pantry as a result of the pandemic.

“When folks are laid off from employment, that’s when we normally see new families,” he said. “But the pandemic being what it is, it’s caused us to absolutely see more in the way of need.”

The pantry provides families with fresh produce, meat, dairy and shelf-stable items. Kirksey volunteered as pantry coordinator about 10 years ago when Swissvale United Methodist Church needed assistance to keep it available to the community.

“It was not about me. It was about what was needed,” he said.

Kirksey said being a servant leader has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. As a Black man, he says it is an important part of himself.

“I’m 80 years old, and I’ve seen a lot,” he said. “I used to do this at my former church in Braddock, Calvary AME Church. I did that to help maintain the households that would come in on a Saturday morning (for food).”

Over time, Kirksey has seen the pantry space grow, and he has helped guide about 30 volunteers through the pandemic, serving their community in new and innovative ways.

“It has given us a chance to become more creative in what we do.”

If you are in need of food assistance, visit https://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/get-help/ to find a food pantry or other resources near you.

Listen: Swissvale Community Food Pantry serves hundreds in the surrounding community