KDKA-TV Turkey Fund emphasizes importance of helping others

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The 42nd annual KDKA-TV Turkey Fund is underway, and the need for food assistance is greater this year than at the height of the pandemic.

“People are hurting right now,” said Chris West, director of community connections for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Workers and volunteers there see the need for food assistance first-hand. Remember the long lines for food during the peak of the pandemic? Now, even when the pandemic is over, there’s still no need for that.

“We’ve seen a 12% increase in calls and an 11% increase in food distributed,” West said.

Last year, the food bank delivered approximately 42 million meals across the 11-county region it serves. This is an increase of 2 million meals compared to 2020.

So why now?

“Inflation is really hitting families hard, and emergency SNAP benefits were cut off in March, going from $400 a month to $23 a month for some people,” West said.

Last year, the food bank received nearly 18,000 calls for food assistance and distributed 37 million pounds of food. It’s not just boxed or canned food.

“What we’re offering more of is fresh produce,” West says.

To be exact, we sold over 12 million pounds of fresh produce last year.

Some of that food is available at The Market, the food bank’s on-site food pantry.

“In the first year alone, we distributed 1 million pounds of food through The Market and served more than 12,000 people,” West said.

The food bank also partners with approximately 1,000 food pantries throughout the region. Food pantries can be found on the food bank’s website.

“There’s actually a green Find Food button that allows people to find pantries, grocery stores, convenient things nearby,” West said.

As need grows, food banks are hearing more and more parents skip meals so their children can eat.

“Every day, we hear from people who are struggling to make ends meet to provide enough food for themselves and their families,” West said.

Food banks are also hearing that a growing number of seniors on fixed incomes are having to gamble for their health.

“In the past, older adults were tapering off their medications, but now we have older adults who are just trying to make ends meet and get through this time without even refilling their medications in the first place,” West said. Told. Month. “

And while the need is great year-round, the demand for food banks is even greater this time of year.

“When it comes to Thanksgiving, people always want to have a delicious Thanksgiving meal, a Thanksgiving turkey, and we want to serve as many families as possible,” West said. Ta.

That’s why your contributions to the KDKA-TV Turkey Fund are so important every year, but especially this time.