Jennifer Begg knows there are families who may be without food after strong storms last week left people without power for days.
She understands firsthand the impact of not having a working fridge or freezer. She and her team at the Sharpsburg-based St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry had to throw away a lot of frozen meats and dairy products after not having power for at least 48 hours.
The food pantry is in the basement of the church with an entryway from nearby Altmeyer Way.
That inspired pantry volunteers to organize an emergency food distribution Tuesday at St Mary’s Church, 210 Garnier St.
“As we were doing that clean out, we started talking to each other,” Begg said. “This has to be such a hardship for the people in this community. What can we do? We’re thinking about our clients who come in and they’ve now lost their supply of food until next week.”
Begg said they were able to order the emergency food through the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Emergency food packs include four frozen proteins including chicken and fish, and a couple dairy items such as milk, eggs and margarine. No nonperishable goods.
People can pick up the packs Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 6 p.m. No registration is required.
“As long as the food lasts, we’re going to give food to anybody who comes in and says they need it,” Begg said.
People can sign up for regular food pantry distributions on site.
The pantry’s regular distribution is the third Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon and from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Participants will have to give volunteers their name, address and how many people are in their household.
The next regular distribution is May 15.
Begg said she plans to have a full complement of items, including canned goods, lunch meats and cheeses, at that time.
The food pantry served 107 Fox Chapel Area School District families in April and serves an average of 100 families a month.
Begg is assisted by co-coordinator Becky Urso and multiple volunteers.
People who want to donate to the pantry can make checks payable to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and mail them to Christ the King Parish, 342 Dorseyville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15215.
More information is available at sharpsburgfoodpantry.org.