IN Peters Township December 2017/January 2018 | Page 69

Laura Norton, Coordinator of the PT Food
Pantry, with Co-Coordinator Ruth Brosky. Peters
Township resident Cheryl Maher is the treasurer.
bags. In the meantime, another
volunteer goes to Giant Eagle
Market District to pick up
fresh and frozen donations.
Donations are also picked up
from Panera.
Clients arrive early and
receive a number. New clients
are welcome, and receive
a number following the
completion of their paperwork
and registration. Then, each
number is called and the client
signs off on the paperwork.
Clients go through the tables
and choose their desired fare,
and volunteers help carry bags
to the cars.
“Because of the generosity of
our donors, we are able to offer
each family $10 to $30 in Giant
Eagle gift cards to purchase
items we cannot provide,
including milk, eggs, feminine products and more,” says Norton.
At Christmastime, the McMurray Rotary buys all of the
pantry’s children, ages 12 and under, a generous gift.
Donations to the PT Food Pantry can be dropped off at any
time at the PT Library, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and
Trinity Methodist Church food bins. St. Benedict the Abbot
Church’s Ben’s Men, various Peters Township churches, the
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well as Peters Township schools
all offer donation programs at different times during the year.
Sunny Bridge Natural Foods also donates food regularly and
has held cookouts to benefit the pantry. The PT Food Pantry is
always in need of soups, canned tuna/chicken, paper towels and
personal care items.
“We have a great group of volunteers who make any
newcomer feel welcome,” adds Norton. “You can volunteer one
or both days each month.” Volunteers include people from all
walks and all ages—kids on holiday from college, grandparents
bringing kids on a day off of school, and much more. For over a
year, a group of adults from Achieva has come to help set up.
“The PT Food Pantry is really important to our community
because we must help our neighbors,” says Norton. “Some
clients are in generational poverty; however, many have worked
hard in their lives, but after retirement do not have
the means to buy the groceries they once were able to.
Seniors are higher risk in not getting proper nutrition.
There are also those who have suffered a crisis and
need temporary help in feeding their families. We
may see a person or family only once, but it got
them through that difficult month. There is
no shame in reaching out for help and we
make every attempt to serve our families
with dignity and love.”
For more information about the
Peters Township Food Pantry, visit
pe terstownshipfoodpantry.org. ■
Peters Township | December 2017/January 2018 | icmags.com 67