Washington County food bank money goes to Pittsburgh organization

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Washington County commissioners took a controversial vote last week to divert funds from the Greater Washington County Food Bank to an organization based in Allegheny County in hopes the group will be able to help with the county’s current food distribution.

In a 2-1 vote Thursday, commissioners allocated more than $280,000 of state and federal money to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

The funds are from the federal Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Pennsylvania State Food Purchase Program.

Chairwoman Diana Irey Vaughan and Commissioner Nick Sherman, who voted in favor of the contract switch, say it’s the right move, but Commissioner Larry Maggi believes the funding should be kept within county lines. 

Irey Vaughan said problems with distribution were brought to her attention in January, when she received a hand-written letter explaining changes happening with food distribution in the county.

The Greater Washington County Food Bank, a nonprofit organization, has provided food to people in need for the past 35 years, but in the past year has consolidated 22 of its public pantries down to eight. 

The consolidation has put stress on families, particularly in the Mon Valley, who depend on their local pantry to put food on the table, she said.

Commissioners had several conversations with food bank officials, but Irey Vaughan said they were not given an explanation as to why the consolidations were necessary. Commissioners were told there’s not a chance of reopening closed sites at the current time.

“Right now, we are underserving our population in Washington County,” Irey Vaughan said. “During a pandemic, when individuals are struggling to make ends meet and they have no food on the table, or extra money to put gas in their car to drive further to get food to feed their families, we had to figure out a solution.

“Knowing we went from 22 pantries to eight was just unacceptable.”

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