Butler church celebrates 2 years of distributing monthly food, Christian love
What began as an effort to help Butler families struggling to buy food during the coronavirus pandemic has become a mission to not only feed, but spiritually fortify those families.
Volunteers at Orchard Hill Church’s Butler campus marked the second anniversary of a food distribution held on the last Saturday of each month. The distribution is in the parking lot across from the church at the intersection of Walker and Brugh avenues in Butler.
Cars were waved into the parking lot at the food distribution entrance and traversed a large horseshoe, where they stopped at various stations before driving away with bags of shelf-stable food and produce.
The Rev. Brady Randall, pastor at Orchard Hill’s Butler campus, said the food distribution began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the pastor at Allison Park Church’s Clearview Mall location told him he was looking for a food distribution point in the city of Butler.
“That led to a distribution site in this part of town,” Randall said, as he surveyed the dedicated volunteers performing their tasks in winter coats, hats and gloves.
In the Orchard Hill distribution’s two years of existence, more than 650 families have received 100,000 pounds of food from more than 50 volunteers from the congregation, Randall said.
The very first distribution at the end of January 2022 saw the temperature drop to single digits, Randall said.
Those receiving food are not required to prove their need in any way, and no one is turned away, he said.
Most people who pick up food are doing so because of the financial impact of the pandemic, the expiration one year ago of the additional SNAP benefits available during the pandemic, or the dramatic increase in prices since then, he explained.
“The reality is, even those not in need found themselves in need,” Randall said.
He said the shelf-stable food comes from Community Partnership in Butler and the produce is from the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.
On Saturday, he and other church volunteers were stocked well enough to place into the back seats or trunks of 165 people who drove through.
Randall said he has had no trouble rounding up volunteers for the food drive from his flock, as they all understand the importance of the food distribution.
“It’s a tangible way to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” he said. “We’re in the Jesus business, not the food business.”
Dean Santamaria, volunteer team leader for the food distributions, said it takes a minimum of 14 volunteers to carry out the monthly food distribution at Orchard Hill.
“We never have less than 20 or 25 who show up,” he said. “I think the volunteers see it as a really necessary program. It strikes everyone in their heart.”
Those who pulled into the parking lot entrance Saturday to collect food immediately encountered the smiling faces of Orchard Hill volunteers who explained how to traverse the horseshoe and retrieve their food.
Tony Calahan, who retired from the Ohio State Police, is the volunteer who provides traffic control and security at the distribution, but he’s never had to assert his authority.
“We are the first greeters, and they get a sense of the fellowship we have and the people are welcomed,” he said.
Calahan, like all the Orchard Hill volunteers, feel the monthly distribution is absolutely necessary.
“People out there need help and a lot of people are afraid to ask for help,” he said. “We will help without question.”
The next stop is at a table occupied by the registration team. Records must be kept so the church can continue receiving food by following government regulations.
A list of names is kept for that purpose.
“This is the perfect location to reach out to this part of the city,” said Amy Reynolds, an Orchard Hill member who has volunteered at 20 monthly distributions. “We want our neighbors to know we are here for them for any need.”
She said those receiving food have a diverse list of reasons for needing the help.
One older woman took in her son and two grandchildren. Another client is a man who has custody of his grandson.
“He’s probably in his 70s, and he has to raise his grandson,” Reynolds said.
After the registration table, drivers pull up about 20 feet to the prayer team, whose members engage them in a short conversation and ask if there is anything they would like to pray about.
They also are invited to attend services at Orchard Hill.
“I want to invite them into a healthy environment, so they can get some nurturing,” said Charles Cowell, a volunteer prayer team member.
He said many clients have struggles other than food that have gone unaddressed.
“We want to say we care what happens to you as a person,” Cowell said.
The vehicles then move on in the horseshoe and receive their bags of food from the multitude of friendly, accepting volunteers from Orchard Hill Church.
Randall hopes to continue the monthly distributions for as long as necessary.
“Where there are people, there is need, and where there is need, there we go,” he said.
