Food Pantries Make a Difference

Introduction

As the American Economy continues to deteriorate, millions of Americans cannot find decent jobs and support themselves. Now hunger has become a serious problem in the United States. When our fellow Americans do not have enough to eat, we cannot ignore them and must do our part to alleviate the problem. This is the story of how a local food pantry in the city of Pittston Pennsylvania is doing its part to feed the hungry. Of course, the food pantry is supported by the local community.

As a major web site in the world and in the country, I hope the Yahoo Contributor Network will see this as one of the major social and economic problems which must be addressed. When the many talented writers in the network begin reporting on what is happening in their area, we can learn from each other, encourage more people to get involved, and orchestrate a much more effective response to the problem.

Donations

A businessman has made a generous contribution to the Greater Pittston Food Pantry. This generous gift has made fresh fruits and vegetables available for low-income residents at each pantry visit.

This same businessman donated hundreds of pounds of fresh produce each year during the pantry's annual Christmas food giveaway. Now these donations arrive weekly and provide enough to supply 60 to 75 households. The variety includes potatoes, celery, tomatoes, onions, bananas, apples, honeydew, oranges and more. Volunteers bag the fresh items and package them with canned and dry goods, milk, bakery, and frozen foods.

The Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) donates a comprehensive array of foodstuffs twice a month, and the new Pittston Wal-Mart donates from 100 to 1,000 pounds of nearly expired dry goods, bakery items and frozen meats twice a week. Monetary donations are used to purchase milk which is delivered each week at cost from the Blue Ribbon Dairy. This dairy also donates free milk for 350 households during the Christmas season.

Volunteers

Volunteers use their own trucks and vans to pick up most of the items that are donated from CEO, Wal-Mart, and local churches. Recently, a commercial van was donated to assist in picking up donated items.

The citizens and various groups of the Greater Pittston community have become goodwill ambassadors and benefactors through their continued generous donations of money, foodstuffs, and personnel hygiene items. There are numerous churches, schools, scout troops, Red Hat Societies, athletic teams, VFWs, fire departments, businesses, and others who have held food drives. Additionally, the National Association of Postal Carriers, recently contributed 800 pounds of food to the pantry.

This great effort became possible when one of the local churches lent an entire building and contributed to its upkeep. Of course, the many volunteers are essential to keep the pantry operating.

The Need Continues to Grow

Unfortunately, the need continues to grow along with the community support. More than 700 families within the Pittston Area and Wyoming Area School Districts are served. Families whose incomes fall within 150 percent of the federal government's poverty guidelines are eligible to receive food aid for five weeks. A new category of increased need has been established for 200 families whose incomes are 25 percent of poverty guidelines. Households whose incomes range from zero to several hundred dollars per month may now schedule an appointment for food every three weeks. In spite of the impressive volume of food donated, and the great human effort, the pantry is a supplemental food program which can only meet a family's need for a couple of days.

Source: Peggy Burke, Greater Pittston Food Pantry Coordinator, Donations welcome, needed at Pittston area food bank, The Citizens' Voice, June 28, 2011.