Valley libraries to take part in Westmoreland Food Bank food drive

Belle Vernon, Monessen, Rostraver and West Newton libraries are among the participants.

The Westmoreland Food Bank will be working with the Westmoreland Library Network to host a weeklong food drive in each individual library in the county.

The food drive will run from Sept. 9-13 and will be called a “week of service” to commemorate the national day of service on Sept. 11 and those who have served the country.

“We wanted to do something specifically to bring attention to the importance of serving, serving in general and specifically the service provided by those active military and veterans of the armed forces, but also those individuals within our community who are first responders,” said Westmoreland Food Bank director of employee engagement and culture Jeff Abramowitz.

These are some of the Mon Valley libraries participating in the food drive:

• Belle Vernon Public Library • Monessen Public Library • Rostraver Public Library • Sewickley Township

• West Newton “Among the most requested items from the food bank are boxed meals like Hamburger Helper and mac and cheese,” noted the Belle Vernon Public Library Director Elina Filander. “Because they are light to lift and easy to pack up, we’re asking our patrons to think of those first.”

The libraries will be taking food donations throughout the entire duration of the food drive and will be focusing on getting Hamburger Helper and other boxed meals.

All donated items have to be non-perishable, have no obvious defects, within expiration dates and have their original manufacturers label.

Some of the most needed items are:

• Canned tuna, chicken or salmon

• Canned fruits and vegetables • Canned meals

• Peanut butter and macaroni and cheese

• Cereal, preferably whole grain The food bank is excited to be working with local libraries and Abramowitz said they are an important part of what they’re doing.

“I think that libraries are one of the cornerstone components of any strong and stable community, and having the ability to connect with and partner with those foundational entities whose presence helps keep a community going, that only makes us stronger,” Abramowitz said. “And then the additional bonus is a library is a common place. It’s something that people know, it’s someplace that people can access.”

Abramowitz added that they wanted to bring attention to how community members can also serve their country in their own way and how important it is to do so.

“The reality is that not every individual has the capacity to serve this nation and armed forces or to be a first responder, but one of the concepts that we wish to instill on the people of this region in Westmoreland county is that just by serving, you honor those who do serve, and serving doesn’t have to be in the military,” Abramowitz said.

Abramowitz said people can honor those who serve in the military by simply doing their own part to help their local community and doing something small in their own backyard.

According to Abramowitz, the week of service is split into two parts and the first involves volunteer activities that include packing food boxes for veterans, seniors, and packing food filled backpacks for students. The second part will involve volunteers sorting through donated food at the Westmoreland Food Bank.

He said the food bank is always looking for volunteers and will take anyone who would be interested in helping out during the week-long food drive.

“Last year, we had an army of 4,600 people in this county who donated 66,000 hours. So our food bank family isn’t just our employees, it’s 4,628 people, most of whom are the volunteers in our community,” he said. “But I’m trying to get everybody, I think everybody should try to volunteer on some level.”

He also encourages local community groups and organizations to participate in the food drive as well and host their own drives. Even if you already have one planned, they encourage groups to reach out.

Anyone interested in hosting a food drive or with questions can contact Gina Colosimo at Gina@ WestmorelandFoodBank. org or call 724-468-8660.

For more information, go to www.westmorelandfoodbank. org/weekofservice/