Tracy Guadagni helps load a box of dry food and a box of fresh produce into the trunk of a cari in the parking lot of Orchard Hill Church, 120 Walker Ave., Saturday, Jan. 28, morning. It was the 13th drive-through food distribution for the church. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Orchard Hill Church, 120 Walker Ave., had its 13th drive-through food distribution Saturday, Jan. 28, in the church’s parking lot.

The church started its food distribution, held on the last Saturday of every month, in January 2022.

Church member Dean Santamaria said the church averages 40 to 60 cars per event, but the effect is much larger.

“Some people are collecting for two or three families, so they are taking food for others. It affects 200 to 250 people,” he said.

He said the church distributed 100 boxes of dry goods — beans, pasta and more — and 100 boxes of seasonal produce — onions, potatoes, carrots, apples and oranges. Each car gets a box of each.

Harry Laity, of Butler, helps load food into the trunk of a car at the Orchard Hill Church in Butler on Saturday, Jan. 28, morning. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

“We work with the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. We open at 9 a.m and we are done by 11 a.m.,” he said. “It’s amazing. We have 14 volunteers to run it properly: traffic control, registration. We have three people at a prayer station for people who feel the need for a prayer.”

“We really put a lot of effort into it. So it really represents the church well,” Santamaria said.

There is no need for an appointment or registration. People can drive up the day of the food distribution and register their name, the number of members in their family and if they are collecting food for other families as well.

“People see the signs around the city or the post on Facebook,” Santamaria said.

The church also takes food to the Arbors Living assisted living center at 200 Lincoln Ave. for shut-ins and seniors who might not be able to attend the distribution and who may be running out of groceries at the end of the month. And the church takes food boxes around the neighborhood to other people who might not be able to get out to the church parking lot.

The food distribution was organized by Santamaria and Orchard Hill Pastor Brady Randall when they realized there was more need in Butler County than was being met.

“We want to be recognized as a neighborhood church. And this is the quintessential neighborhood church,” he said.

“It really represents the hands of Jesus. It works. It really helps the people coming through,” said Santamaria.

Each car received a box of dry good and a box of fresh produce during the food distribution on Saturday, Jan. 28. The group distributes food the last Saturday of each month in the church parking lot. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Around 20 volunteers came out to help their neighbors on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Orchard Hill Church in Butler. They hand out boxes of dry food and bags of fresh produce to families in need on the last Saturday of each month. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle