An overwhelming response to a free food giveaway in Leechburg last Saturday has prompted the church that sponsored it to change how this coming Saturday’s distribution will be handled.

People lined up in their cars hours before the event’s noon start time last Saturday, and all of the food boxes were gone well before noon.

“That speaks to the desperation, and people didn’t want to miss out on their boxes of food,” said the Rev. Todd Pugh, pastor of event sponsor Kiski Valley Community Church. “We had a steady stream of cars for hours showing up after all of the boxes were distributed.”

The rush of vehicles caused a traffic jam. At the police’s request, the church started the distribution more than an hour early in order to clear cars that had lined up onto heavily traveled roads.

It also created a potential safety issue, with vehicles blocking sections of Market and First streets and the entrances to the fire truck bays at the fire station.

“The fire trucks would have been unable to exit if needed in an emergency, and we can’t have that,” Pugh said.

Pugh expressed his gratitude to the fire company for donating the use of its parking lot for the distributions, which are set for each Saturday this month — and possibly into March.

“We appreciate above and beyond what Fire Chief (Tom) Foster has done to help us,” Pugh said.

This Saturday, more than 30 church volunteers in orange safety vests will direct traffic.

This week: More food, earlier start

About 1,300 boxes of free food will be distributed in a drive-thru format beginning at 10 a.m. in the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company parking lot at 268 Canal St.

Inventory will be up this week, with about 200 more food boxes expected to be delivered.The food distribution is open to anyone.

The food is made available through the Farmers to Families Food Box program, a partnership of the USDA and Convoy of Hope. The food is provided at no cost to the church. Each box of perishable food items contains cheese, milk, meat, fruit and vegetables.

Pugh said the giveaway could be extended into March.

Don’t show up early

People will receive food at the distribution on a first-come, first-served basis. Pugh urges folks to heed the 10 a.m. start time to avoid a repeat of last weekend.

“Do not show up early,” Pugh said. “It’s going to cause a lot of problems if people show up early because our food delivery arrives that morning and the tractor-trailer needs to have room.”

Check the church Facebook page for updates at facebook.com/kiskivalleycommunitychurch.