South Hills Interfaith Movement Helps Lead Mass Food Distribution at South Hills Village

Last Updated on Saturday, 30 May 2020 16:47

Thousands in The Affluent Community Facing Food Insecurity During COVID-19

South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) partnered with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to hold a mass food distribution at South Hills Village on Saturday, May 16, for South Hills residents who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loading up Food

More than 950 vehicles lined up to receive three pre-packed boxes of food each. Long food bank lines have been common in low-income communities during this crisis, but in the comfortable South Hills, thousands of individuals and families are also affected by food insecurity.

“Suburban poverty has been a growing concern in the South Hills for some time, and this pandemic has only made it worse,” said Jim Guffey, executive director of SHIM. “Many people don’t realize that prosperous communities are also facing hardships right now. This is the first time that many of our neighbors are struggling to pay their bills or put food on the table. This crisis doesn’t care what zip code you live in; it’s universal.”

Even before the pandemic, the South Hills was grappling with the toll of rising food insecurity. SHIM’s three food pantries — located at SHIM Center in Bethel Park, Prospect Park in Whitehall, and Baldwin United Presbyterian Church — provided more than 501,000 pounds of food and personal care items for more than 3,500 South Hills residents in 2019. The need has only grown this year, especially during COVID-19. Since March, when SHIM began offering drive-through pantries in lieu of its shop-through option, it has seen a 28% increase in people seeking help with basic needs like food and financial assistance. SHIM’s pantries served 745 households and nearly 2,400 individuals in April alone, with nearly half of all visitors using the service for the first time.

SHIM Worker loading needed food

As the need continues to grow in the South Hills, SHIM has leveraged its partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to get more food to vulnerable residents.

“We’re extremely proud to partner with SHIM to help those in the South Hills who are struggling,” said Lisa Scales, president and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. “As we’ve seen over the past few months, the pandemic has affected people on all levels and of all backgrounds. We continue to be inspired by organizations like SHIM that are guiding their communities through the fear and uncertainty of this crisis.”

For SHIM, the South Hills Village distribution was a full-circle nod to its roots, which began more than 50 years ago when SHIM began as “South Hills Ministry in the Mall” in the popular shopping center. Since then, the organization has adapted to the evolving needs of the community, including and especially during the pandemic.

“This crisis has changed everything, including how we respond to our community’s challenges,” said Guffey. “Our team is working tirelessly to modify our services so that we can continue to assist those who need it most. We’re grateful to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for always being a tremendous partner and helping us serve our neighbors in need. Their leadership and actions have never been more vital.”

Directing Food Recipient Trafffic

More information about SHIM’s essential services during the pandemic, including its pantries, can be found at shimcares.org/covid-19-resources. Anyone in need of urgent assistance can contact SHIM’s main office at 412-854-9120 and select the extension for the appropriate staff person.

Those who want to make a monetary donation to support SHIM’s work can do so at shimcares.org/give.

About South Hills Interfaith Movement – SHIM is a human services organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in need across the South Hills. This includes working to reduce the devastating effects of suburban poverty among low-income workers, the unemployed, families, single parents, senior citizens, women, and the high concentration of refugee families in its service area. SHIM works to identify the most critical needs across the South Hills, then develops and implements effective solutions. SHIM aims to empower individuals and families to achieve stability and self-sufficiency by offering short-term help with basic needs (food, clothing, utilities) and longer-term support (employment, financial planning, youth programs, family support) to help people build and sustain promising futures.

About the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank – The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that distributes more than 35.5 million meals annually across 11 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania through a network of agencies, partners and programs. The Food Bank was founded in 1980 and is a member of Feeding America, the leading domestic hunger-relief charity in the U.S. For more information on hunger in our region or how to get involved, visit pittsburghfoodbank.org.