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Westmoreland County Food Bank
Westmoreland County Food Bank Tries to End
Hunger
By Karen Fetter
Hungry people live in
Westmoreland County and the Westmoreland County
Food Bank (WCFB) tries to reach out to each and
every one of them. Though able to feed
over 15,000 people per month, 4,000 of whom are
children, the Food Bank still needs help in so
many ways.
The WCFB is a private, not-for-profit
organization that supplies food to hungry people
through a network of food assistance programs in
Westmoreland County. This program works in
conjunction with food stamps to help sustain
families longer. There is no charge to be
enrolled in the program.
Jennifer Miller, Development Director of WCFB,
says that two ways people can help are by
getting more volunteers and by creating more
pantries. “There are still 12,000 people
who are hungry in Westmoreland County and our
goal is to feed all of them,” said Jennifer.
This is a daunting task, especially with funding
going down and cost of fuel and food going up.
Because of the dramatic decrease in food and
funds from the USDA and the State Food Program,
the WCFB’s program went from having 7 million
pounds of food to distribute to only 5 million
pounds of food, almost a 30% decrease.
Jennifer is excited about two programs currently
under way to promote WCFB and to make people
more aware of the program. One program is
Operation Fresh Express (OFE). This mobile
pantry will carry perishable food items to those
in need throughout Westmoreland County.
The program will help eliminate waste that
occurs when dealing with perishable items that
are donated or bought.
In 2007, over 386,000 pounds of perishable food
was provided to over 6,800 needy individuals
through OFE. More than 2,000 were children and
over 700 were seniors. Without OFE, much
of this nutritious food would be discarded due
to lack of refrigeration. Each week, groups and
individuals sponsor OFE distributions, where
from 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of perishable food
(frozen, dairy products, and fresh produce) is
directly distributed to needy families by WCFB
staff and volunteers at sites throughout
Westmoreland County.
You can help with a sponsorship for 2008 for
only $350. If you would like to volunteer at or
sponsor an OFE, please contact Deana at
724.468.8660 ext. 29 or e-mail her:
deana@westmorelandfoodbank.org. The Food
Bank has received a grant through the Pittsburgh
250th – Sprout Foundation for 2008 to expand
this program in the Monessen, Greensburg, and
Mt. Pleasant areas where they are lacking
sponsorships.
Another way WCFB is trying to gain more
awareness is through a monthly radio show on
WCNS in Latrobe. The show will air on the
third Saturday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to
9:00 a.m. The first show is set to air in
February with Jennifer as the host.
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Of each dollar donated to
WCFB, 97 cents goes to food and food programs.
WCFB also acquires food through local donations
and government food assistance programs (State
Food Purchase Grant and The Emergency Food
Assistance Program). This food is then
sent to provide food to meal programs, soup
kitchens, food pantries, emergency shelters, and
child care programs.
“We want to educate the public on the WCFB
because a lot of working poor people don’t come
forth because they aren’t aware that they could
be helped,” said Jennifer. “Whether it is
to assist in addition to food stamps or to just
help families who are hungry, this program is
designed to end hunger in Westmoreland County.”
Each person signs a self-declaration of need to
become eligible. If a person qualifies for
food stamps they also can qualify as a client
for the food pantry.
Jennifer says another goal of the WCFB is to
develop new pantries in certain areas,
especially in the rural, more mountainous areas
of the county. The WCFB is looking for
people who are dedicated once a month to help
people in these communities.
“Our goal is to end hunger,” said Jennifer.
“We are trying to become creative to get people
to hear our pleas.”
Cash donations are extremely helpful because the
WCFB can buy in bulk and receive wholesale
prices. Just $1.00 can buy 7 pounds of
food, which is enough to make five meals.
Jennifer adds that the operations manager
creates new packages each month for clients so
there is a variety. People can then make
different meals and try new foods. The
food bank does not just want to end hunger, but
it cares about the food that it gives each
person just as if they were able to purchase it
on their own.
There are three major food drives each year
among many smaller ones that greatly support the
WCFB. One is the partnership with the Boy
Scouts that will take place April 5. The
Scouts spend the day collecting grocery items
from houses and stands at certain locations.
Last year they collected 36,000 pounds of food.
Another is the Fall Food Share Program.
The Westmoreland County Food Bank works with
Giant Eagle to collect food for its clients.
Often times, people will take advantage of the
“buy one get one” offers and other large
quantity sales and donate the extra item or
items to the food bank. There is also the Mail
Carriers food drive. Local mail carriers
distribute flyers to houses all over
Westmoreland County asking people to leave
grocery items on their front porch that they
wish to donate. Then the carriers come by to
pick up the donations while delivering the mail.
If you would like to be a volunteer or to make a
donation, please contact the WCFB at their main
office in Delmont at 724-468-8660 or visit
www.westmorelandfoodbank.org.
Volunteer or to make a donation to the
Westmoreland Food Bank
Contact the WCFB at their main office in
Delmont at 724-468-8660 or visit
www.westmorelandfoodbank.org
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