Food banks are feeling the pinch from the coronavirus.
The Westmoreland County Food Bank put out a call for volunteers Monday.
“Some of our food partners are experiencing very low volunteer turnout,” CEO Jennifer Miller said. “We’re really in desperate need of volunteers.”
Miller said one primary source of volunteers — college students — has dried up because colleges have closed for the remainder of the semester.
The food bank normally gives its partner food pantries one large order per month — enough for a month’s supply of food for each client household, Miller explained.
Because pantries are lacking in volunteers, the food bank is pre-packing boxes for individual families, she said.
“Most food pantries are going to drive-through methods or just allowing a few people in at a time,” Miller said. “All they need is a few volunteers to shuttle boxes out the door.”
The Westmoreland food bank, 100 Devonshire Drive, Delmont, needs volunteers at its warehouse on the following days.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) senior food box packing:
• 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Saturday
Emergency food box pre-packing:
• 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday
• 12-2:30 p.m. Tuesday
• 12-2:30 p.m. March 26
• 9-11:30 a.m. March 30
• 9-11:30 a.m. March 31
• 9-11:30 a.m. April 1
• 9-11:30 a.m. April 2
• 9-11:30 a.m. April 3
Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. People who have returned from a trip outside the United States within the last 14 days or who have a fever of at least 100 degrees — or other coronavirus symptoms — may not volunteer.
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank also is planning a call for volunteers and wants volunteers to sign up online.
“We are limited to how many people we can have working on those projects, so we are asking volunteers not to arrive at the building if they haven’t signed up online,” said Angela Mallick, community engagement manager.
The Pittsburgh area food bank also is considering alternate methods of food distribution, including pre-packed food boxes, drive-through distributions, home delivery and “other innovative delivery systems that limit human contact,” according to its website.
