Mini food pantry comes to Greensburg park

A new community food box in Greensburg is the centerpiece of a renovated parklet on South Pennsylvania Avenue.

Anyone can access the two plastic containers in the tiny park. People can donate items, and those in need can take from the box.

The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department and its junior firefighters raised money for the box.

The plan is for members of the community to keep it stocked. It recently was stocked with canned goods, snack foods, a hygiene products.

Non-perishable food, hygiene products, diapers, school supplies, hats, gloves, scarves and socks are all welcome. Fresh foods, previously worn clothing and alcohol are prohibited.

The concept has grown in popularity in recent years.

A Fayetteville, Ark., woman in 2016 opened the first “Little Free Pantry.” The free food concept based on the Little Free Library model now lists more than 700 locations across the country and internationally, including in Canada, Europe and Australia.

In Western Pennsylvania, the SW Community and PA Youth Initiative Free Pantry serves people in and around Allegheny County’s Bridgeville and Collier Township areas. Another three Little Free Pantries are listed in Aliquippa, Beaver County.

More than 12 million children in the United States face hunger, according to Feeding America. The median annual income for households served by the Feeding America network is $9,175, the organization reports. More than 66% of families served by the network reported having to choose between food and paying for utilities, transportation costs and medical care. Another 57% said they had to choose between food and housing.

Parklet comes along

Greensburg firefighters replaced the parklet’s worn-out wooden benches with new metal ones.

The fire department raised more than $3,000 from local donors for the new benches and the food pantry.

The park renovation project is a partnership between the fire department and the Downtown Greensburg Project.

The Downtown Greensburg Project will host a community clean-up at the park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 26. Volunteers can sign up at the Downtown Greensburg Project Facebook page.