Dec 14, 2017 4 min read

For some Greene County residents, finding a source for that next meal can be quite a challenge.

Food security can be especially precarious for those just above the poverty lines or those who don’t meet the eligibility requirements for assistance at a traditional food pantry.

Much like Little Free Libraries that have popped up across the county, so too have small pantries. These boxes serve as intermediaries to an actual pantry, a place someone can go for help without filling out paperwork.

Margaret Truntich, co-chair of the Greene County Food Security partnership, said a member of the community, Suzanne Cole, approached her with the idea. Waynesburg’s First Presbyterian Church offered to build their own, and it’s been up and running since the summer.

“There’s so much need in this county and so few people to deliver it,” Truntich said. “It’s just amazing how nice people are in this county.”

The pantries, which Greene County has dubbed Helping Boxes, provide short-term help to those struggling between paychecks or pantry distribution days. They will have non-perishable food items and small toiletries.

“People just above the poverty level or the levels of eligibility for the various assistance programs can be especially vulnerable because having just those few extra dollars of income can drastically decrease their fallback support options. Plus, some people just find it difficult to ask for help or don’t want to get involved with a lot of bureaucratic paperwork and may feel more comfortable taking food from one of our Helping Boxes. That includes the homeless, who we hope will also use these small pantries,” Truntich said.

For help with more boxes, Truntuch turned to the Greene County Career and Technology Center. Students built the boxes for free with donated materials, and also helped design them. Truntuch said they went beyond what was asked, making sure they would shelter food from the elements. They have metal roofs and are insulated, ventilated, and safe from water and insects.

Unlike Little Free Libraries, which require almost no upkeep other than maintenance of the box itself, these pantries can be quite an undertaking.

“They require daily monitoring to ensure that they are stocked and only safe food is provided. Think of the work involved with the monthly food bank distributions and consider that very similar work must be done for the Helping Boxes on a daily basis, albeit on a much smaller scale. Although the boxes are small, the workload isn’t always so and responsible people have to be found to do the work,” Truntich said.

Four organizations have stepped up to take on some of the boxes, and Truntich is hoping the other three will find homes before the end of the year. Other organizations are also interested in participating.

Truntich said she wanted rural areas involved because there aren’t as many options when food runs scarce in outlying areas.

There are no forms or income requirements.

If a family’s car breaks down or someone gets sick, those expenses can eliminate a safety net.

“Something has to suffer, and a lot of times, it’s the food,” Truntich said. “If they need the help, we would like them to get it.”

It can also be embarrassing for some to admit they can’t afford food.

“People like to go in the middle of the night,” Truntich said of other pantries, which is why they’ve tried to select well-lit areas for their locations.

Pantries are set to be installed at the Eva K. Bowlby Public Library in Waynesburg, the Flenniken Memorial Library in Carmichaels, Aleppo Brethren Church and Spraggs United Methodist Church.

If anyone is interested in creating their own small food pantry, Truntich hopes they take precautions to keep the food safe. Make sure it is insulated, ventilated and can shield goods from the elements. Do some research and discard any expired or damaged cans of food, she advised.

Anyone interested in helping, including those that want to install one of the remaining pantries, can call Truntich at 724-627-7533.