Pioneer Pantry gives out record number of boxes
BUTLER TWP — The Pioneer Pantry saw a lot of new faces for Thanksgiving dinner.
Butler County Community College's food pantry provides monthly food packages to students to fight food insecurity. BC3 special events director Mikayla Moretti said 45 students requested the extra package the pantry gave out for the Thanksgiving break, and many of them had not gotten anything from the pantry prior.
“We are seeing a lot more traffic, and a lot more donations,” Moretti said. “It has been a great resource for people these last few weeks.”
With the winter semester break coming at the end of this week, the pantry is hosting its regular distribution, and also giving out special winter packages as well. The winter packages include a turkey or ham or both, vegetables and stuffing and dessert ingredients like pie fillings, crust and cream.
Morgan Rizzardi, associate director of admissions at BC3, said Monday that the pantry will also provide emergency food packs to any students who need them during the winter break until Jan. 4 when the college is scheduled to reopen for spring semester.“The winter box is just something a little extra,” Rizzardi said. “We're happy the pantry is able to be up and running.”Moretti said the college is also alerting usual pantry-goers to a distribution the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is planning Dec. 21 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver.There are no requirements, income or otherwise, for students to visit the pantry Moretti said. According to Rizzardi, the pantry workers also accommodate students who say they need a little extra for a month or two, or even if they say they have large families.“If they exhibit the need, they walk through the door, we'll help,” Rizzardi said.Moretti said that although more students have been using the pantry than ever in its two years, it has also gotten more donations as well. She said donations have been able to keep up with the need.“We do an Amazon Wish List as well as monetary donations through PayPal,” Moretti said. “We have been very fortunate and I have been able to keep our shelves stocked through the holiday.”The past few months, the pantry has been looking for donations of healthcare and hygiene products to expand on what it is able to provide for students in need.Zoe Sims is a freshman work study student in the pantry, who said she has also gotten food from it. She said students can almost always find what they need when visiting.“Some students come in and just need a little extra to get them through,” she said.
