Latest news with #foodpantries
CBS News
12 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Pittsburgh farm thriving thanks to volunteer work
Described as one of Pittsburgh's "best kept secrets," a 23-acre farm is growing, educating, and feeding families. Located in the St. Clair community, the Hilltop Urban Farm's planting and growing practices are based on the community's desires. "We have a few that really love hot peppers. Another that really likes collards and okra. So, we really try to accommodate whatever we're growing," said Director of Farm Programs Liz Metzler. The farm began in 2019, and there are only seven workers: four full-time and three seasonal. That's why the farm workers say they heavily rely on volunteers like those from UPMC. "This year, we've had about 500 volunteers, just in this calendar year. One hundred thirty of which were UPMC volunteers from different divisions," said Youth and Volunteer Program Manager Sophia Sanders. They have their community farm program, where everything they grow makes its way to local food pantries. "Last year, we grew over 7,500 pounds from this field. And this year, we're hoping to double that," said Metzler. Farming can be a long, dirty process, but it's one that kids who volunteer here enjoy, no matter what they get their hands on. "The kids love to dig for worms. It's kind of a cliché that you think, but then they come in and they're helping to weed or they're helping to plant," said Sanders. Executive director of the farm, John Bixler, says it's a wonderful program. "People come up here and they're just blown away. And like right now, it's quiet. You're three miles from Downtown Pittsburgh." The KDKA Drone Team flew over several acres of the farm, showing what's planted, the orchards, and areas that have yet to be touched. It's proof that the farm has room to grow, and they hope the community will grow with them.
Washington Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Funding cuts starve food banks
National Funding cuts starve food banks July 16, 2025 | 3:56 PM GMT Trump administration cuts to meal service programs are leaving food banks and their suppliers without critical funding. We traveled to West Virginia to see how food pantries are struggling to help those who need this funding the most.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Food Bank needs volunteers after a successful Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Here in Texoma, tens of thousands of meals are on their way to families in need, thanks to this year's Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Over 38,000 pounds of food collected across 12 counties, but the work doesn't stop there. Volunteers are needed to help sort and distribute it all. The donations came from people leaving bags of food at their mailboxes with mail carriers collecting the goods during their routes and taking it to the food pantries in their districts. Now, the focus has shifted to sorting, checking, and distributing all that food. Volunteers are still needed to help process the donations and organizers say every extra pair of hands makes a difference. WFAFB Marketing Director, Zachary Graham says this drive is more than numbers, it's about neighbors helping neighbors. 'School just ended and we have a lot of parents that now are taking care of their children's lunch and breakfast needs that the school used to take care of. So, there's just an extra strain on an already stressful time for a lot of people. And so, it's really important that for this summer we have all the food that we can give', said Graham. In Wichita Falls alone, they received 25,000 pounds, but as impressive as these numbers are, what matters most is the impact once it leaves the food bank. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
