Food drives helps restock food bank shelves
he shelves in the Corner Cupboard Food Bank in Waynesburg had been slowly emptying as a result of state budget cuts, however, the tables have turned and the cupboards have been filled once again, thanks to a recent emergency food drive in Waynesburg.
The food drive, held earlier this month on the steps of the Greene County Courthouse, was a success, as representatives from Corner Cupboard collected a large amount of monetary donations and food.
The food drive was held after it was reported that the food bank was in great need of donations. Representatives from Corner Cupboard said that because of funding cuts, the food bank was in dire straits and seeking food and/or monetary donations so that it could continue to provide services to those in need.
Each month the food bank distributes food to roughly 3,000 needy recipients through 14 Greene County pantries.
Unfortunately, the sources of funding have been drying up for some time, and the ability of the food bank to continue operating as it has in the past has become critical, officials said.
According to Jan Caldwell, director of Corner Cupboard, one of the biggest parts of the food drive was a donation by the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation.
“The hospital foundation has pledged a donation of $100,000 over the next five years,” said Caldwell. “We received $20,000 of that on Friday, and we will receive $20,000 a year for the next four years. Through their generosity, we will be able to sustain ourselves for the next five years.”
Caldwell said she believes the donation showed an incredible amount of foresight.
“I was in total disbelief of how much the members of that foundation understood that hunger is an ongoing problem. For them to make a huge donation — $20,000 is two months’ worth of food for us — that’s one sixth of our food budget, is absolutely incredible,” she said.
“It’s a shining example of how the members of that organization are. It encompasses the shining spirit and generosity of a little county in southwestern Pennsylvania known as Greene County.”
Caldwell said all of the donations have shored up the foundation of the food bank, ensuring the continuation of its mission.
“It just goes to show that Greene County always steps up to help those in need,” she said. “We’re even getting donations coming in from Pittsburgh — people who don’t even know us, but are giving of themselves out of the goodness of their hearts. That’s the bottom line of this story.”
Including the donation, the drive has thus far unofficially raised nearly $187,000 in monetary donations, but the giving didn’t stop there.
According to Sam Kniha, program coordinator for Corner Cupboard, 10,667 pounds, or 5.33 tons, of food was donated on Sept. 21 alone, with an entire tractor-trailer truck full of food expected to be coming in sometime in the next week from Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
“The immediate problem for us (before the food drive) was that the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are right around the corner. People rely on us for supplementary food during that time more so than the rest of the year,” Kniha said. “We’re going to be able to do a lot of great things for this community. The whole community really stepped up. It was fantastic to see that outpouring of support for the food bank.”
Caldwell said she was rendered speechless by the amount of food donated.
“To see the total amount of food laid out on the seat of our county government is a huge testament to what this community and this state is made of. People from all across the state are sending us money,” Caldwell said. “We don’t know how to thank everyone enough. It’s just amazing, the goodness in people. Good isn’t a strong enough word — this encompasses every ‘feel good’ moment that anyone can have in a lifetime, and it will all go to those who need it.”
The emergency food drive was spearheaded by Joe Manning and his wife, Lynn, owners of Alpha Omega Communications.
Joe Manning said that shortly after learning of the food bank’s plight reported in the media, they had about $48,000 from people who had promised to donate, a number that skyrocketed on the day of the event.
“We’re really happy with the turnout and the people of Greene County who have stepped up to give their support through monetary or food donations,” said Joe Manning. “We’re proud to be involved with this organization and happy to help out in any way we can.”
There were several big donors, aside from the hospital foundation, Kniha said.
“We had donations from the Greene County United Way, Charlie Riggs and the United Mine Workers of America — Emerald Mine, who donated around $5,000 each,” she said. “We also had various anonymous donations ranging around $5,000 each.”
Greene County commissioners Archie Trader and Pam Snyder attended the food drive to present the county’s donation of $5,000.
Corner Cupboard President Dave Balint said he was overwhelmed by the amount of community support.
“We’re very appreciative to be able to have the community’s support and we’ll be able to do a lot of great things with the money and food that were donated,” Balint said. “With cuts in state funding, unfortunately we have to rely more on community support, and this community definitely stepped up to help.”