DAVID FREEMAN was able to pick up some food and items at the new mobile food pantry at St. James AME Church, 444 Lincoln Ave. (Photos by Rob Taylor Jr.)
Every second and fourth Wednesday—next opportunity is April 26
There couldn’t have been better weather for the first day of St. James AME Church’s latest mobile food pantry. Not a cloud in the sky, 75 degrees, and a truck packed with food and hygiene products brought out 72 people who received the free items on Wednesday, April 12, in front of the church, 444 Lincoln Ave.
One of the recipients was David Freeman, from the Hill District, who recently moved into the area. He was coming from the Sunoco gas station up the street from the church, and by the time he made it home, “I got chicken, noodles, spaghetti, health products, soups, cereal, all of that,” from the St. James food pantry.
“This is a good welcoming present,” an excited Freeman told the New Pittsburgh Courier.
ST. JAMES AME CHURCH PASTOR, REV. DR. JAMES H. HARRIS SR.
Wilkinsburg Community Ministry is the lead organization behind the mobile food pantry. It partnered with St. James following a request from the church’s pastor, Rev. Dr. James H. Harris Sr. The food pantry is supported by Whole Foods, Square Cafe (East Liberty), Trader Joe’s, My Goodness, Fifth Season Connection, Costco, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Wood Street Bakery, and Market District.
The mobile food pantry at St. James is staffed entirely by church members and other volunteers, and is open every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 4 to 7 p.m. The next mobile food pantry is available at the church on Wednesday, April 26. A scan of the pantry saw a wide variety of foods, including chili, macaroni and cheese, corn flakes, beans and rice, and hygiene products such as toothpaste and deodorant.
Regina Ragin and Flo Frederick were happy to get some items from the food pantry on April 12.
“It’s a good thing,” Ragin told the Courier, “because the way that the lights, the gas, the water have gone up, with my little social security, I have $40 left to shop. This supplements my income.”
