Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank makes effort to distribute food equally

EFFORT TO EQUALLY LEND A HAND. A GIFT FROM A CHILD. THIS HANDWRITTEN NOTE TO LISA SCALES SAYS WHEN IT RAINS, LOOK FOR RAINBOWS. WHEN IT’S DARK LOOK FOR STARS. THE CEO OF GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, SAYS THAT NOTE AND OTHERS FROM STRANGERS KEEP HER IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING. >> I AM INSPIRED BY THE NOTES I GET AT OUR DRIVE UP DISTRIBUTIONS. I HAVE A NOTE IN MY OFFICE OR MY WOMAN WHO HANDED ME A NOTE OUT HER CAR WINDOW THAT JUST SAID THANK YOU, YOU ARE A BLESSING. OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE TOLD ME YOU’VE LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE. I DIDN’T KNOW WHETHER I WOULD HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO EVEN SURVIVE THE MONTH. >> THAT’S THE CASE FOR MANY FAMILIES. >> AT DISTRIBUTIONS, HEARING PEOPLE SAY HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS BEFORE, I’M EMBARRASSED, I FEEL ASHAMED AND FOR THEM, UNDERSTANDING IT WAS NOT ANYTHING THEY DID AND IT HELP THEM HAVE GREATER EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY HAVE THE STRUGGLES. >> WE SEE PEOPLE EVERY DAY WHO ARE HUNGRY BUT WE JUST DON’T KNOW IT. >> SCALES SAYS THE NEED FOR FOOD AFFECTS ALL RACIAL GROUPS EQUALLY IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA. BUT ACCESS TO FOOD, IS NOT THE SAME FOR EVERYONE. SHE SAYS SOME MINORITY COMMUNITIES, DON’T HAVE GROCERY STORES WITH FRESH PRODUCE. AND THAT CAN LEAD TO POOR HEALTH. >> FOOD JUSTICE IS SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY AND POVERTY IS RACIAL INEQUALITY. >> THE FOOD BANK MAKES SURE FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED, ACROSS THE BOARD, AND WORKS WITH GROUPS LIKE 1HOOD MEDIA, B-PEP, AND THE YWCA TO AMPLIFY VOICES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. >> IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO FOCUS ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE CHARGED WITH THE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN 11 COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND WE KNOW THAT BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY FOOD INSECURITY. >> AND SHE SAYS IT MAKES HER SMILE WHEN SOME FAMILIES RETURN THE FAVOR. >> A WOMAN HANDING ME A BAG AND SAYING 10 YEARS AGO OUR FAMILY WAS IN NEED, MY HUSBAND WAS OUT OF WORK AND WE COULDN’T PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND THE FOOD BANK WAS THERE FOR US AND SO I AM GIVING BACK TO YOU TODAY. >> SHE SAYS WHENEVER HAS -- SHE SAYS WHE

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank CEO Lisa Scales said the food bank makes an effort to equally lend a hand.Scales said a handwritten note she received from a child states, "When it rains, look for rainbows. When it's dark, look for stars." She said that note gives her motivation.Scales said others from strangers keep her in the spirit of giving as well."I'm inspired by the notes I get at our drive-up distribution," said Scales. "I have a note in my office from a woman who handed me a note out her car window that just said, 'Thank you. You are a blessing.'"Scales said, "Other people I've spoken with who have told me you've literally saved my life, I didn't know if I would have enough food to survive the month." She said that's the case for many families. Karen Dreyer, director of child nutrition programs at the food bank, said, "At distributions, hearing people say, 'I never had to do this before, I'm really embarrassed, I feel ashamed,' and I think for them, understanding it wasn't anything they did. And it helped them have greater empathy for people who normally have these struggles.""Hunger really is a hidden issue," Scales said. "We see people every day who are hungry, we just don't know it."Scales said the need for food affects all racial groups equally in the Pittsburgh area, but access to food is not the same for everyone.She said some minority communities don't have grocery stores with fresh produce, which can lead to poor health."Food justice is social justice. We know that one of the root causes of food insecurity and poverty is racial inequality," said Scales.The food bank makes sure food is distributed across the board, and works with groups such as 1Hood media, B-PEP and the YWCA to amplify voices in those communities.Scales said, "It's so important for us to focus on the Black community because we are in charge of the equitable distribution of food of 11 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, and we know Black and Latino communities are disproportionally impacted by food insecurity."She said it makes her smile when some families return the favor."A woman handed me a bag and said 10 years ago my family was in need, my husband was out of work and we couldn't put food on the table. The food bank was there for us, and so I'm giving back to you today," said Scales.Scales said when everyone has access to quality food, the entire community wins.

DUQUESNE, Pa. —

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank CEO Lisa Scales said the food bank makes an effort to equally lend a hand.

Scales said a handwritten note she received from a child states, "When it rains, look for rainbows. When it's dark, look for stars." She said that note gives her motivation.

Scales said others from strangers keep her in the spirit of giving as well.

"I'm inspired by the notes I get at our drive-up distribution," said Scales. "I have a note in my office from a woman who handed me a note out her car window that just said, 'Thank you. You are a blessing.'"

Scales said, "Other people I've spoken with who have told me you've literally saved my life, I didn't know if I would have enough food to survive the month." She said that's the case for many families.

Karen Dreyer, director of child nutrition programs at the food bank, said, "At distributions, hearing people say, 'I never had to do this before, I'm really embarrassed, I feel ashamed,' and I think for them, understanding it wasn't anything they did. And it helped them have greater empathy for people who normally have these struggles."

"Hunger really is a hidden issue," Scales said. "We see people every day who are hungry, we just don't know it."

Scales said the need for food affects all racial groups equally in the Pittsburgh area, but access to food is not the same for everyone.

She said some minority communities don't have grocery stores with fresh produce, which can lead to poor health.

"Food justice is social justice. We know that one of the root causes of food insecurity and poverty is racial inequality," said Scales.

The food bank makes sure food is distributed across the board, and works with groups such as 1Hood media, B-PEP and the YWCA to amplify voices in those communities.

Scales said, "It's so important for us to focus on the Black community because we are in charge of the equitable distribution of food of 11 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, and we know Black and Latino communities are disproportionally impacted by food insecurity."

She said it makes her smile when some families return the favor.

"A woman handed me a bag and said 10 years ago my family was in need, my husband was out of work and we couldn't put food on the table. The food bank was there for us, and so I'm giving back to you today," said Scales.

Scales said when everyone has access to quality food, the entire community wins.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank makes effort to distribute food equally

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