More than 140,000 people in Allegheny County live with food insecurity. Local organizations offer a safety net for our neighbors who are struggling to put food on the table.

When I toured the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s newly renovated building in 2023, I had the privilege of visiting The Market, the onsite pantry in Duquesne. The Market felt like a trip to the grocery store. Filled with fresh produce, dairy, meat and specialty items, this no-cost facility offers a safe, respectful space that allows community members to access food. I’m proud to be a part of a community that continues to provide for those going through tough times in a caring, compassionate manner.

But gaps remain. Awareness about assistance and resources is sometimes lacking, and more specialized needs can be challenging to address.

At PublicSource, we strive to empower our audience with the knowledge and understanding needed to drive positive change, including on issues of food insecurity. PublicSource has published a public-service guide that outlines several resources available to local households facing hunger. Our guide not only provides residents the necessary resources, but also lets the community know how they can get involved.

A recent example of our impact: In January, we published this story on how the region’s charitable food system strives to meet the needs of refugee populations, including language interpretation and halal food. The Oakland Food Pantry, which has about 30 Afghan families visit the pantry each month, was having trouble getting enough halal meat. We investigated, asking questions about the system and supply issues. As a result of our reporting, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank made arrangements to get halal meat for the pantry, helping to alleviate this need. 

Impactful journalism like this isn’t free to produce. To make sure we’re able to cover these important topics, we depend on support from our readers. If paywall-free, reliable coverage that makes a positive difference in our region matters to you, will you make a gift today? You can make a one-time gift or start a monthly donation to help sustain our work into the future. 

Thanks for your readership and support.

Sincerely,


Lee Hood
Operations and Membership Coordinator
PublicSource