DUQUESNE, Pa. — An unprecedented number of people in our area have resorted to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank since the coronavirus pandemic triggered widespread layoffs.
Officials there tell Channel 11 it’s so critical, they’ve seen a fivefold increase in people desperate for food. At a food distribution event Monday, there were 861 vehicles in three hours.
To date, the Food Bank has served 5,970 vehicles at emergency distributions since its COVID-19 response began.
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The need for another was obvious at last Monday’s distribution. Chopper 11 captured cars lined up for miles waiting hours to get food.
The National Guard, for the very first time, was even called in to help cope with increasing demand.
[ National Guard brought in to help Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank ]
Workers served more than 5,000 cars over the last couple food giveaways and still had to turn people away.
With the region bracing itself for the next two weeks, the food bank expects to give away more food Monday.
Food bank officials ask those coming out to arrive no earlier than 11 a.m. and not after 3 p.m., when the event ends.
The food bank has held four emergency drive-up distributions so far, giving away some 265,000 pounds of food.
[ Pittsburgh food bank trying hard to keep up with skyrocketing demand ]
The Food Bank is currently planning additional drive-up distributions over the next few weeks in the city of Pittsburgh, as well as Beaver, Butler and Greene counties. The Food Bank will announce the details of these distributions through the media once they are confirmed, as well as its website and social media channels.
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