Leaders at the Highlands Family Center in Tarentum tried to think outside the box with their latest fundraiser.

Where could they target a crowd of people who might step up to do good for those in need?

“Our food pantry is getting a little scarce, and we thought the Night Market would be the perfect place to appeal for help,” service coordinator Gina Bishop said.

The center will host a Stuff-the-Truck food drive from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday during the borough’s open-air festivities. Collections will continue during each Tarentum Night Market through November.

“This will definitely help us build up the pantry and, if we do it every month, hopefully we’ll get enough stock to help us through the winter,” Bishop said.

Volunteers actually will be stuffing the center’s van, but the name wasn’t quite as catchy, she said with a laugh.

The Highlands Family Center sits along East Fourth Avenue and is run by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. The facility offers a bevy of free services including a diaper bank, food pantry, home visits, field trips, parent groups and addiction recovery.

The group serves more than 2,000 families a year, leaders said.

“Food insecurity is a big issue in this area, but what’s nice about our pantry is that there are no income guidelines,” Bishop said. “If you come in and say you need help, you get food.”

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