A food pantry is being constructed at the Blawnox Municipal Building

Blawnox officials need help stocking the shelves of a new food pantry.

It’s a project at least six months in the making and could be open by the end of August.

Blawnox Manager Kathy Ulanowicz and Assistant Manager Mallori McDowell have been transforming a second-floor caucus room into a pantry when they’re not handling borough business.

“It’s been something that we in our office have wanted to do for quite a long time,” Ulanowicz said. “There are some needs in our community that we’ve been aware of. We’ve had some calls and understand there’s a need in the community (for the pantry).”

They are working with organizations to acquire a chest freezer and a refrigeration unit so the borough can offer perishable foods to complement canned and dry goods.

McDowell is excited about the project and said things are going well so far. Barren shelves, however, need to be filled.

Nonperishable food items, paper products and personal hygiene items will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the borough office, 376 Freeport Road. Gift cards to local supermarkets also are welcome.

Ulanowicz said the borough usually gets a lot of participation in its annual food drive around Thanksgiving and hopes to get that same kind of support with the pantry initiative.

The hope is to support all Fox Chapel Area School District communities. However, income and residence verification are not requirements to participate.

“We’ve found there’s more of a need year-round than just the holidays,” she said. “We’re trying to find the people that are out there that are food insecure to be able to come here and not worry about being turned away.”

Councilwoman Katie Specht-Coban routinely volunteers for the holiday food drive. She believes the pantry will be a great way to continue helping people.

“We try our best with the Thanksgiving drive. We help a lot of people, and we’re always afraid we’re not helping enough. With this, we’re going to help people who really need it. This is going to be an ongoing thing,” she said.

The pantry project is not expected to impact North Hills Community Outreach’s On the Go food distribution program.

Outreach volunteers haul about 600 pounds of food to give away to people regardless of income or residency. People can get fresh produce, frozen seafood, meats, pet food, baby food, diapers and personal hygiene products. Volunteers set up shop for about an hour at three different spots all in one day.

North Hills Community Outreach will be outside the Blawnox Municipal Building from 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 18, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20.

Call Ulanowicz or McDowell at 412-828-4141 for more information about the pantry and how to help.