During the Lenten season, the Bread of Life Food Pantry in Etna is seeking donations to provide Easter hams to local families and bear the weight of a “dramatic increase” of people seeking its services.
Alexis Weber, manager of the pantry located in Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church at 94 Locust St., said Bread of Life normally helps provide for a little more than 100 families. But recently, she said, that number has “skyrocketed” to closer to 150.
Aside from a rise in pantry users during the covid pandemic, Weber said she has never seen such a sharp increase of community need in her 11 years of volunteering.
The reason, she said, likely is inflation as some families in the Shaler Area School District — which the pantry serves— struggle to stretch their dollars. But increase or not, Weber said she wants Bread of Life to be able to provide an uninterrupted service.
“We want to continue to provide what we can to our families,” she said.
Many of her patrons, she said, are seniors, disabled residents, veterans or just regular workers in tough spots. Weber said she would like to help all of them celebrate a decent Easter come April.
According to Etna Manager Mary Ellen Ramage, several religious and civic leaders in the borough have helped sure up the pantry in the past, and she does not expect that to stop now.
Much of Bread of Life’s fresh produce, she said, comes from the Garden of Etna, which has four large beds dedicated solely to growing vegetables for the pantry.
Without a true grocery store in the less-than-1-square-mile borough, Ramage said Etna is a sort of “food desert.” But Bread of Life fills the gap for those who cannot drive or otherwise have shopping difficulties, she said.
Weber said those interested in helping can donate money in person or online at breadoflifeetna.org. Those interested in donating nonperishable foods can drop off items from 2 to 4 p.m. Mondays and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays at the former All Saints School, 19 Dewey St., in Etna.
“We’re thankful for anything, honestly,” Weber said.