A glass-enclosed cabinet outside an Irwin church is filled with nonperishable food — an inventory that changes as people donate what they can and take what they need.
The Irwin Rotary Club is responsible for the Care & Share Pantry that stands outside First Assembly of God Church at 501 Oak St. During a recent visit, it was filled with cans of soup, peanut butter, gelatin, beans, pasta and a box of macaroni and cheese.
“I thought it would be useful in downtown Irwin,” said Rotary Club member Amanda Maderas, whose idea is especially welcome with the recent closure of Main Street’s Rite Aid drug store, which also sold groceries.
“I see and know many of the residents. Many of them struggle to make ends meet, so we wanted to provide something helpful for them,” said Maderas, who owns Manda’s Curvy Boutique.
The Care & Share Pantry Box is the first community service project for the Irwin Rotary Club, which formed last June. The club, which has about 10 members, is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Westmoreland, Maderas said.
“One of the goals of our new club is to do actual hands-on community projects, not just donate money,” she said.
Maderas came up with the idea for the pantry after reading about little pantries in neighboring communities. Trafford had a similar pantry before it was removed. Greensburg added one this month.
”The priority was to find a locale that was both accessible and somewhat discreet,” said Jennifer Fitzgerald, Rotary Club member. “We felt that it may not be used as much if it was in a high-traffic area along Main Street, for instance.”
The site at First Assembly of God was the best option, Maderas said.
Diane Guiser, pastor’s assistant, said the church sees the project as part of its mission to help people in need.
“We’re really excited about this. We really wanted to be a part of this for the community,” Guiser said.
Irwin Rotarians Frank and Mary Aiello donated the pantry box and Rotary members painted it, Fitzgerald said. Mark Kacvinsky and Don Morrison, friends of club members, installed it.
The club is accepting donations of nonperishable food items, which can be dropped off at either the Cheesecake Caffe or Manda’s Curvy Boutique, both on Main Street.
Irwin Rotary Club members will stock the pantry as needed, Maderas said.
”It would be great if members of the community helped stock the box, but if that doesn’t happen, our Rotary members are committed to making sure there is food available in the box at all times,” she said. “If this box seems to get used a lot, then we will install more boxes where and as needed.”
Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at 724-836-5252, [email protected] or via Twitter .
