National Guard brought in to help Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

DUQUESNE, Pa. — The National Guard has been asked to help out the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank during the coronavirus pandemic.

"With the nature of this crisis we really had to cut back on the number of volunteers that we can welcome into our building so we’ve been really strapped,” said Charla Irwin-Buncher, the food bank’s chief development officer.

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For the first time ever, members of the Pennsylvania National Guard suited up for a very important mission at the food bank.

"Being as helpful as possible, making sure those distribution sites outside of this one have the right amount of food that we can provide to the community,” National Guard Staff Sgt. Raymond Pritchard said.

The need is obvious. On Monday, cars were lined up to get to the Duquesne facility for food. The COVID-19 pandemic is taking jobs away and putting people in unprecedented precarious financial situations.

"We know that the food bank is a resource for people on the best of days so this is what we do. This is what we’re set up to do but just the overwhelming need right now. even for us it has been humbling,” Prithcard said

Each can of beans and box of macaroni and cheese means so much to those who have no place to turn.

And when the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association made the call to the National Guard to come in and help, the mission was gratefully accepted.

"We’re ready for this we’re trained for it and when the call came, we were happy to take part,” said National Guard 1st Lt. Jacob Volpe.

"I work at a high school so i was out of work and to be able to get back on my feet and serve the community it feels great and I’m really excited to be here,” said National Guard 2nd Lt. Kristina Lewis.

The food bank has held four emergency drive-up distributions so far giving away some 265,000 pounds of food.

With the region bracing itself for the next two weeks, the food bank expects to give away even more at an upcoming distribution on Monday, April 6.

So, boxes of nonperishable and frozen food are critical. The extra hands will make sure more boxes can be ready to go at the Duquesne facility Monday morning.

At this point, it’s unclear how long the National Guard will be needed at the food bank, but the soldiers said they’ll do whatever they can to help their community in its time of need.

Pittsburgh food bank trying hard to keep up with skyrocketing demand Pittsburgh food bank trying hard to keep up with skyrocketing demand

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