South Hills nonprofit plans new food pantry
The South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) is negotiating with a property owner in the Interstate 79 corridor to bring its fourth food pantry location to the western South Hills region.
The 501(C)(3) nonprofit already operates two food distribution locations in the central/eastern South Hills in addition to its Bethel Park headquarters, building on its core mission of “neighbors helping neighbors.”
According to Executive Director James “Jim” Guffey, the organization seeks to address food insecurity in the region through basic needs support and a range of community-based programming.
This includes distributing over 1 million pounds of free food to local families in 2025.
“(Our organization) is structured around need,” he said, adding that the nonprofit uses both Department of Human Services poverty data and the ALICE Income Status Tool to identify communities with the greatest food insecurity to plan future programming.
Chief Development Officer Seth Dubin said local food insecurity, especially in the South Hills suburbs, “doubled and tripled” over the pandemic, prompting SHIM to consider expanding its operational footprint.
SHIM Chief Operating Officer Pace Markowitz confirmed that the organization is in the final stages of completing a deal to acquire a new facility in the I-79 corridor near Heidelberg/Bridgeville, but did not offer a specific location as the process is still ongoing.
The new facility will require a major renovation to convert for SHIM’s use, but once complete will feature a logistics hub for food deliveries; an in-person shop-through food pantry; and office space for nonprofit staff.
Markowitz said SHIM targeted this region due to its high level of under-addressed community need, and its easy access via major roadways and Pittsburgh Regional Transit stops.
Guffey said in an ideal world, the new location would be open “yesterday,” but acknowledged that sometime in 2027 is a realistic timeframe.
Markowitz confirmed that SHIM will release more information on the specific location and estimated opening date for the new pantry once that information is available.
SHIM was founded in 1968 as South Hills Interfaith Ministries by a group of like-minded religious leaders from a range of faith traditions. It generated approximately $10 million in total economic impact across the region in 2025 through its food, clothing and basic needs distribution, plus programming efforts, according to a recent report commissioned by the nonprofit.