412 Food Rescue holding more distributions Friday and Saturday as need increases
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With no end in sight to the pandemic, there seems to be no forseeable end to food insecurity induced by covid-19.
Layoffs, particularly in the service industry, combined with the end of the $600 a week federal boost to unemployment on July 31, mean one box of food can make a big difference to a cash-strapped family.
In an effort to meet demand and keep people from having to wait in long lines, 412 Food Rescue is holding food distributions at two locations Friday and Saturday. Each household will receive a box full of fresh dairy and produce items.
Friday’s distribution will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at Clairton Middle/High School as part of a combined effort with the Clairton City School District. Saturday’s distribution will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Clayton Academy on Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Senior Program Director Jen England said both locations are accessible by foot, bike, car and public transit and were chosen as part of an attempt to avoid long lines.
“Our strategy at 412 Food Rescue has always been to get food to where people already are,” England said. “We’re connecting the USDA’s Farmers to Families food boxes with our region’s highest need communities.”
Citing statistics showing 40% of food is wasted while 1 in 9 people go hungry, 412 Food Rescue began its operation in March 2015. The organization redirects healthy food discarded by restaurants and markets to nonprofits that will make it available for those in need.
David Primm, 412 Food Rescue’s chief operating officer, said the distributions are important because of the continued uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.
“Having this food will help people save money for other expenses like rent or other bills they may incur,” Primm said. “The need is great — and it could end up being even bigger in the next few months.”
Since March, the nonprofit organization said it has distributed over 24,000 meals to bus stops in Pittsburgh, distributed food boxes to more than 1,700 households in Pittsburgh and Beaver County, and started a program to financially support restaurants and unemployed service workers.