Rosedale food pantry gets new walk-in cooler to help with summer produce storage
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Rosedale Food Pantry in Penn Hills recently obtained a new walk-in cooler in order to store more food and help more families.
It acquired the near 7-by-7-foot cooler in May from Ventec Refrigeration of Penn Hills. It can store about 200 boxes of produce, milk and baked goods.
“It increases food capacity just in time for our summer season,” assistant director Curtis Brown said. “We have an increased volume of fruits and vegetables that need to be kept cool.”
The pantry at Rosedale United Methodist Church is open the first through fourth Wednesdays of the month from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Pantry director John Dick said they usually pick up a lot of produce from Sam’s Club on Tuesdays in preparation for distribution.
“If I leave it outside, it cooks,” he said about the summer heat.
Total cost of the project was around $17,500, including installation and additional electrical work.
The pantry had a walk-in freezer and cooler along with several large rectangular freezers for years.
The cooler purchase was partially funded through a grant from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
“They have been really good to us over the years,” Dick said.
The pantry has seen a decrease in need in recent months. It went from serving 150 to 200 people per week to slightly less than 100 per week.
Dick said increased government assistance, such as stimulus checks, boosts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as well as churches and other organizations giving away food during the pandemic, might be impacting the pantry’s participation.
“If you’re trying to end hunger, it’s a good thing,” Dick said.
Brown anticipates more need for food during the fall and holiday season.
Dick and his wife, Judy, started the pantry in Plum in 1990 at what is now called Amplify Church. They moved to the church along Third Street near the Penn Hills/Verona boarder in the early 2000s.
It serves families from Penn Hills, Verona, Oakmont, Plum and some from Harmar, Cheswick and Blawnox.
Any organization that wants to have a food or fund drives for the pantry can call 412-302-2509. To donate, make checks payable to “Rosedale Food Pantry” and mail them to 448 Geisler Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15221.