WHAT’S NEWS IN MURRYSVILLE
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.
ONE-OF-A-KIND CAR
DONATION PROGRAM
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, there are new agency shared
maintenance fees designed to eliminate
the cost of produce (effective Sept. 1).
The decision to change the agency
shared maintenance fees is smart for
the organization and for the more than
110,000 individuals and families it serves
monthly. More than 74 percent of the
people served through 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
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724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
❘
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, GPCFB 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.”
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s
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.
About Greater Pittsburgh Community Food
Bank:
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank,
a member of Feeding America, is a nonprofit
organization founded in 1980 that distributes
icmags.com
Community Auto, a nonprofit program of
The Lighthouse Foundation, accepts donated
cars, repairs and
inspects them when
feasible, and sells
them at discounted
prices to low-income
working families and
individuals.
The used car in
your garage that you
don’t have time to
sell, or didn’t get
the trade-in value you wanted, or a car the kids
used but no longer need would be the perfect
car to donate. Your generous donation is tax-
deductible.
Please contact Community Auto at
communityautolico.org or 724.538.5081 for
details on how to donate your car.
THE LAUREL BALLET &
THE WESTMORELAND
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S
‘THE NUTCRACKER’
The Laurel Ballet in Greensburg will perform
its 25th “Nutcracker” with the Westmoreland
Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 8, at
2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m. at
The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. This year
is the symphony’s 50th anniversary, so the
production will be especially wonderful. n