South Hills Interfaith Movement, or SHIM, runs three food pantries in the Bethel Park, Baldwin, and West Mifflin areas. They provide essential items like canned goods, fresh produce, bread, milk, eggs, and frozen meats.
To help those who can’t visit during standard hours, SHIM has introduced 16 new temperature-controlled food lockers at their Bethel Park location. This change aims to assist individuals with busy schedules who might miss out on regular pantry hours.
“We want to reach as many people as possible,” says Molly Penderville, SHIM’s basic needs director. With traditional service models, they recognized that some people couldn’t come during open hours. This new system lets them access food when it suits them.
Users receive a unique access code to collect food at their convenience. The lockers are designed to keep items fresh, making it easier for those who work during typical hours. Jim Guffey, SHIM’s executive director, emphasizes, “This approach is meeting the needs of families who can’t make it between 9 and 5.” Many families they serve have at least one working member.
In recent years, the cost of living has surged. “Rents and utility bills are skyrocketing. Food prices have also remained high,” Penderville explains. SHIM started by reaching out to families struggling to access the pantry and is now looking to spread the word about the food lockers more widely.
SHIM supports around 4,100 people each month across communities like Baldwin, Whitehall, and Mt. Lebanon. The lockers were funded by generous donors, including the Fred and Shirley Jordan Foundation and the United Way of Southwestern PA.
This initiative takes inspiration from similar installations at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne. Food lockers are also being used at a community pantry in Ambridge.
As the demand for food assistance grows, innovative solutions like these lockers provide crucial support. They empower families to access necessary resources without the constraints of traditional hours.
