Greensburg church, donors ensuring nobody goes hungry during pandemic

The number of Westmoreland County residents in need of food skyrocketed as a result of the pandemic and the ensuing economic shutdown.

“I think, in spite of covid, this community has stood up even taller, and said we will take care of our friends and our neighbors,” Check said.

The Westmoreland County Food Bank distributes about one million pounds of food by late July in a normal year. This year, it has given away about 2.3 million pounds, according to CEO Jennifer Miller.

In addition to its usual services, the food bank partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture for the Farmers to Families food box program, giving out dairy products and produce to about 1,000 families twice a month at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds.

The line of vehicles awaiting food distribution this morning for the Farmers to Families drive-through program at Westmoreland Fairgrounds @TribLIVE @TribWestmoreCo pic.twitter.com/6L7Z6RmfHp

— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) July 20, 2020

It also established a grab-and-go summer meal program for kids. Many school districts offered meals to go for their students in the spring, but most of those programs ended with the school year, according to Miller.

Demand at the food bank was highest in the early months of the pandemic. The number of patrons has dropped to near-normal levels lately, Miller said.

There are a few reasons for this, she said. The economy made a partial recovery as many businesses reopened, and the government provided extra money for the unemployed. Charities, churches, businesses and individuals contributed time and energy to fill in the gaps.

“There are so many people out there who just want to help,” Miller said.

Otterbein United Methodist’s drive-through meal program gives out an average of more than 70 meals per event. It’s funded through the Pittsburgh-based United Methodist Church Union.

Participants don’t need to show proof of income to receive meals, Check said.

“You can come and say you want a meal, and we say it’s good to have you,” she said. “You don’t need to prove it.”

It’s not the only initiative dedicated to feeding the hungry operating out of the church.

Feeding the Spirit started in 2011. It serves hot meals to about 100 people every week in Otterbein United Methodist’s basement.

“Since March, it’s changed drastically, because we weren’t able to host our gathering,” said Feeding the Spirit President Debbie Thackrah. “We refused to stop doing food distribution, so we took a week, and gathered our thoughts, and decided to have an emergency food distribution once a week out of a park.”

Feeding the Spirit sets up every Saturday in St. Clair Park, serving an average of 300 meals a week. They serve a combination of frozen meals and hot meals made by local restaurants — which have either been donated or purchased by Feeding the Spirit at a deep discount.

The organization partnered with other charities and received donations from businesses to provide toiletries, diapers, pet food and other items along with the meals.

“It shows the heart of our community, they were suffering as well with the lack of business, and they stepped in and said we want to help,” Thackrah said.

Miller said she doesn’t know whether the need for food will gradually dwindle to normal levels, or if it will spike again when summer ends.

“This is our first pandemic, so we had no idea what it would entail,” she said.

Thackrah said nobody should have to worry about food during the pandemic.

“Let’s do everything we can to make sure people aren’t living in survival mode during this time, it’s so chaotic,” she said.