IN Peters Township December 2017/January 2018 | 页面 68

FOOD r All
fo
The Peters Township Food Pantry provides for those
in need this holiday season and throughout the year.
BY NICOLE TAFE
T
he PT Food Pantry started in 1982,
by Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
in response to the steel industry collapse.
Through the years, it has been housed in
various churches that have generously
donated space. Currently, the pantry is
located in Peace Lutheran Church.
“There is a distinction between the
Food Bank and the Food Pantry,” notes
Laura Norton, Coordinator of the PT
Food Pantry. “The Washington County
Food Bank oversees some 40 pantries
throughout the county. The pantries are
spread out geographically and our PT
Pantry serves Peters Township and parts of
Eighty Four, Lawrenceville, Finleyville and
a senior complex in Canonsburg.”
The PT Pantry is staffed by a dedicated
group of volunteers, many of whom have
been involved for more than 10 years. The
Washington County Food Bank has paid
employees overseeing the big picture.
66 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Peters Township
“Peters Township residents are very
generous and we are supported by
individual donations as well as several
churches that support us throughout
the year,” says Norton. “All monetary
donations receive a letter that may be used
for tax purposes.”
Clients of the PT Food Pantry must
fall under a state-mandated income level.
Depending on how many people are in the
family, they are categorized into levels and
can receive more food corresponding with
the number of family members.
Distribution takes place on the second
Friday of every month, but preparation
begins much earlier. A week before, Norton
meets with the Washington County Food
Bank to discuss what it has to offer for the
month. “Based on what I have left over
from the previous month, I place my order
with them,” explains Norton. “On the day
before distribution (Thursday), I pick up
a car full of donations from Bethel Bakery
and take them to Peace Lutheran. By the
time I get there, a group of volunteers
has set up tables and is starting to bring out
leftover nonperishable food from
the previous month, plus any donations
we have received during the month.
From there, we set things up like a
grocery store—all tomatoes together, all
soups, etc.”
On distribution day, the Washington
County Food Bank truck arrives and
volunteers unload the boxes from the
truck, unpack and set the items out on the
appropriate tables. Frozen meats are placed
in the freezer, and various bags of fruits and
vegetables are broken down into smaller