Feeding a need Food pantry doubles its space at new Washington location
Mundy Fergus, longtime coordinator of the Community Circle Food Pantry in Washington, goes through one of the food boxes at the pantry’s new location at 69 E. Pine Ave. in Washington.
Pat Puskar of Houston, who has volunteered at the Community Circle Food Pantry for 11 years, stocks shelves with “extra” items that clients are welcome to add to their box of food.
Volunteer Barbara Waddington of Washington unpacks some of the canned goods that were donated to the food pantry.
Volunteers Pat Jarvis of Washington, left, and Karen McDowell of Washington pack boxes with food and toiletries at the Community Circle Food Pantry in Washington.
Community Circle Food Pantry has doubled its space at its new location at 69 E. Pine Ave. in Washington. The new building also has a refreshed atmosphere, new outdoor sign, improved loading capabilities and a more visible presence.
Mundy Fergus was hoping the Community Circle Food Pantry in Washington would have gone out of business by now.
After all, when the women of the Martha Circle at First Presbyterian Church started the emergency food pantry to assist low-income residents and the unemployed, they figured it would be temporary.
But after 28 years, the need, unfortunately, is still as strong as ever, with the food pantry providing food and other household items to 400 families each month.
“It’s disheartening it’s still needed,” said Fergus, the longtime food pantry coordinator.
And for the first time in a long time, the pantry is operating from a new expanded facility, moving from the basement of the Bible Chapel’s Washington campus at 34 W. Wheeling St. to a former garage a few blocks away at 69 E. Pine Ave.
“The church wanted the space back. Their population is growing steadily, and they needed the space,” Fergus said.
That’s not to say the Bible Chapel is no longer involved with the food pantry. Members of the church not only helped the food pantry move, they also helped paint the new location. In addition, they are contributing to the rent.
“We just moved Saturday, so we’re still pretty new here,” Fergus said.
The food pantry started in First Presbyterian’s basement, and after a few years, it moved to the Goodwill store, then located on South College Street. It eventually moved to First United Presbyterian – the Bible Chapel’s predecessor – until moving Saturday to its new location.
The new facility offers twice as much space, with a refreshed atmosphere, new outdoor signage, improved loading capabilities and a more visible presence.
“This is Mundy’s mural,” said food pantry volunteer Bruce McDowell of Washington, comparing Fergus’ work with the food pantry to the generosity of her parents, the late T.S. and Janet Fitch, who donated the mural painted by Malcolm Parcell at Citizens Library in Washington. “Her parents did that to inspire the community. She inspires the community with this.
“This is a wonderful thing. A lot of times you build something and don’t know where it’s going. I’ve watched her paint her mural.”
McDowell started volunteering at the food pantry five years ago, following his wife, Karen, who started volunteering with the organization after she retired.
They are just two of the many individuals, a network of churches and other charitable organizations that help keep the pantry thriving, either by volunteering their time to staff the site weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon or donating items to supplement those provided by the Greater Washington County Food Bank.
“We have been so blessed with volunteers,” said Fergus, noting that she can rely on having about five per day.
And that’s a good thing, considering that earlier this week – just two business days after moving to East Pine Avenue – Fergus spent her fair share of time answering phone calls while volunteers filled shelves and pallets with canned goods and other household items.
“We’re working hard. It’s a well-oiled machine,” said Pat Puskar of Houston, who has volunteered at the food pantry for 11 years.
The food pantry also has three large chest freezers and a refrigerator filled with meat, butter and other milk products.
“People have been very generous feeding the program,” Fergus said.
Each person seeking assistance receives a box that is generously filled with nonperishable food, such as cereal, canned vegetables, pasta, spaghetti sauce, pudding and Gatorade. They also receive meat and other perishable products, and are welcome to take extra items from shelves that are lined with condiments and other canned goods, plus various toiletries.
The food pantry also supplies information regarding local agencies and early-intervention programs that may help those in need become more self-sufficient.
“There is more on the shelves than food,” McDowell said.
For more information, call the Community Circle Food Pantry at 724-225-1540.
Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council, which serves Washington and Greene counties, is hosting the 32nd annual Scouting for Food drive through Sunday.
Contributions to Scouting for Food are distributed to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank network pantries in Southwestern Pennsylvania communities where collections are made to help these providers meet the needs of those facing hunger.
More than 8,500 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and their leaders in the Laurel Highlands Council have been fanning out across the region, gathering food and household products. The drive also involves local companies, hospitals, government agencies, churches, synagogues and community organizations.
In Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s 11-county service area of Southwestern Pennsylvania, one in seven people and one in five children face hunger. Households served by the food bank include many with working adults who just don’t earn enough to make ends meet.
“We are thrilled that the Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council are once again hosting the Scouting for Food drive, and mobilizing the community to end hunger,” said Lisa Scales, president and CEO of the food bank. “This food drive is really about youth taking the lead in an effort to ensure all of our neighbors have enough. With the community coming together through events like this one, I know we can eliminate hunger in our communities.”