FOOD BANK CHANGES
BUSINESS MODEL
TO BETTER MEET
THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY
The Greater Pittsburgh Community
Food Bank estimates that in five years,
nearly 50 percent of its inventory will
be fresh produce, moving from more
than eight million pounds distributed
last year to 24 million pounds in 2022.
Understanding that the cost of fresh
produce is too expensive for many of the
families and individuals served by the
Food Bank, effective Sept. 1 there are new
agency shared maintenance fees designed
to eliminate the cost of produce.
The decision to change the agency
shared maintenance fees is smart for the
organization and for the more than 110,000
individuals and families served monthly.
More than 74 percent of the people served
at the Food Bank want fresh foods as part
of their diet but purchase inexpensive,
unhealthy foods because they cannot afford
healthier options. It is important to the
Food Bank’s mission to promote healthy,
fresh produce options and ensure that
people have access to the right foods.
“By changing our agency shared
maintenance fee structure, we are able
to take advantage of the largest source of
food waste in our country – the six billion
pounds of produce that never make it
out of the fields,” said Justin Lee, Food
Bank Chief Operating Officer. “The new
fees are designed to eliminate the cost of
produce. Although some, not all, of the
fresh produce is donated, it costs time
and money to source, transport, store and
deliver it. We do our best to keep these
costs to a minimum and absorb them
ourselves. Occasionally we have to ask our
agencies and partners to help with some of
those costs.”
The Food Bank network of more than
400 agencies that serve as emergency or
regular food distribution centers, after-
school program sites and on-site feeding
programs will see their fees fluctuate
between a five percent decrease and a 10
percent increase.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food
Bank, a member of Feeding America, is a
nonprofit organization founded in 1980
that distributes more than 33 million meals
annually throughout a network of nearly
400 member agencies across 11 counties
in southwestern Pennsylvania. For more
information on hunger in our region or how
to get involved, visit pittsburghfoodbank.org.
them at discounted prices to low-income
working families and individuals. This
unique organization puts donated cars into
the hands of our neighbors on the road to
self-sufficiency.
The used car sitting in your garage that
you don’t want to bother selling, wasn’t
getting the trade-in value you wanted,
or the one the kids used but no longer
need would be the perfect car to donate.
Your generous donation gets you a tax
deduction.
Contact Community Auto at
communityautolico.org or 724.538.5081
to get all the details on how to go about
donating your car.
ONE-OF-A-KIND CAR
DONATION PROGRAM
Community Auto, a program of The
Lighthouse Foundation, is a nonprofit
program that accepts donated cars, repairs
and inspects them when feasible, then sells
SPECIAL FARMERS MARKET/HARVEST FESTIVAL AT THE BLOCK NORTHWAY
The Block Northway will host a year-end autumn farmers market to showcase the bounty of fall produce, along with a Harvest Festival
featuring free fun activities for the entire family! The fun begins on Friday, Oct. 26, from 3 to 7 p.m., at the new two-level south atrium
located near DSW and Wahlburgers. Guests will enjoy locally grown farm-fresh goods sold by diverse vendors like Freedom Farms, The
Olive Tap, Wigle Whiskey, Jarred, GOODLife Juices, Aunt Carol’s Homemade Dips, Gahr’s Hamloaf, Zeke’s Coffee, Kettle Corn and
many more. Activities include FREE face painting, balloon artist, Carnegie Science Center Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, Pumpkin Patch,
Glow Sticks, appearance by Witch Hazel, and Harvest Brew Tasting by Pittsburgh Brewing. Costumes are encouraged and giveaways are
on a first-come, first-served basis. ■
HAMPTON
❘
FALL 2018
7