'We take care of people that fall through the cracks:' Food pantry helps families in Murrysville - WTAE Pittsburgh

'We take care of people that fall through the cracks:' Food pantry helps families in Murrysville - WTAE Pittsburgh

The Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Murrysville has helped thousands of families since it was established in the 1970s.

Shelley Earhart has been answering calls for help at the pantry for 24 years and says the stories she hears are often emotional.

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"I've known a lot of them for many years since I've taken their calls and some of them have multiple problems,” said Earhart. “Food does not need to be one of them."

The pantry is currently housed at the Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church and helps dozens of

families every month.

“"We think we take care of people that fall through the cracks,” said Judy Radcliff, manager of the pantry. “That's one of our goals, to make sure that even people working that need a little help can be helped by our pantry."

The pantry provides both canned goods and fresh foods to people in need, including meat and bread as well as laundry detergent and toiletries.

Families receive three meals for three days and no one that asks for help is turned away.

"We have people that come with varying problems,” said volunteer Jim Delbridge. “Some that really have physical problems, some that are just trying to find work. The opportunity to relieve some of that pressure is extremely rewarding and once you leave here after doing that you feel some satisfaction that you've done something to help."

The items in the pantry are donated from local businesses, churches, organizations and community members.

It's what has kept the pantry going for decades and allowed them to help more than 250 families a year.

“People are very grateful,” said Radcliff. “Very, very grateful. Lots of hugs, lots of blessings flowing out of this pantry."

“They appreciate the way that we treat them with dignity,” said Earhart. “They come in for food and they're calling for help - some of them are in tears and they don't want to be treated unjustly and they don't want to hesitate to call in for help so we're happy to say we can do that for them."

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