Services
The Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry provides emergency and supplemental food to all those who qualify for food assistance in the 15217 zip code area.
Our goal is to help clients regain and maintain stability, and, for those who are able, to regain self-sufficiency. To that end, we also have an onsite social service and resource coordinator who works with clients to identify issues and provide solutions (including direct case management and referral/connection to other community resources) that help clients through immediate crises and improve their lives in the long-term. We also offer, in collaboration with other JF&CS departments or community organizations and businesses, additional life skill and other programming and services of benefit to clients.
How We Help
Families and individuals that meet income eligibility requirements qualify for emergency and/or scheduled food distributions at the Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry.
We know that hunger is but a symptom of underlying issues, and a Social Service and Critical Needs Coordinator works with clients facing multiple barriers to self-sufficiency, helping them to get through whatever immediate crises they are experiencing and working with them to ensure their long-term well-being. We conduct assessments of client needs, develop solutions and provide coordination and referral to JF&CS (Pantry parent agency) or other applicable community and government resources.
In addition, the Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry collaborates with other JF&CS departments and community organizations and businesses to offer on-site life skills and other programming of benefit to Pantry clients, including workshops on budgeting, tax preparation, healthy cooking on a budget, parenting, job search skills and more.
Our goal is to help those who can to become self-sufficient and to connect those who cannot (i.e., the frail elderly or disabled with insufficient fixed incomes) with the services and support they need to maintain stability, comfort and dignity.
How You Can Help
Even as the American and Pittsburgh economies show tentative signs of improving, the human toll of the recession continues to mount. Far too many people are out of work, out of savings and nearing the end of their unemployment benefits. Economists predict the recovery from the recession will be long and difficult, and the Pantry anticipates a continued surge in requests for food and emergency assistance as people struggle with job losses and other problems triggered by the downturn.
A critical partnership between staff, volunteers and donors enables the Pantry to deliver on its mission to provide food and supportive services to those who would otherwise go hungry—and to do so in a manner than respects their dignity. We need your help.
