Food bank director receives Unsung Community Service Award in Bridgeville

Each year, the Bridgeville nonprofit One Music Fest Inc. presents an Unsung Community Service Award.

The 2023 recipient is Tim Anderson, director of the Bridgeville Community Food Bank, who received his honor during One Music Fest’s fifth annual Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., held Jan. 16 at Bethany Presbyterian Church.

“Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is the only federal holiday that has a service component. It is meant to be a day on, not a day off,” Gregory Jones, the event’s master of ceremonies, said. “It is designed to give the opportunity for each community to solve a local problem.”

A particular area of concern is food insufficiency.

“The Bridgeville Community Food Bank has been at the forefront in helping hundreds of families facing that particular problem each month, for more than 30 years,” Jones said.

Anderson has led the organization, based at Bethany Church, for 26 years.

“Nationwide, I heard reports that food banks were in trouble. I haven’t seen that,” he said in accepting his award.

He did cite rising costs and their effects on groceries:

“During a recent trip to a grocery store, I saw that a dozen eggs was over $5,” and a pound of bologna matched that price. “That just tells you that families in need are hurting. Their wallets are hurting.”

Within the local community, though, generosity has helped counter need.

“The food bank has benefited from over 20 food drives this past year. Donations were abundant. Often, there was food that came in where I had no idea where it came from,” Anderson said. “In the last few months, I felt like I was more in the thank-you letter business than helping needy families. There was that much thanks to go out.”

In a further expression of gratitude, he quoted the Biblical phrase “Jehovah Jireh” (Genesis 22:14):

“The Lord will provide.”