Apr 18, 2026 By Mike Jones 3 min read

The Washington County commissioners are poised to move their federal- and state-allocated funding back to the locally-based food bank more than five years after county officials began directing that money to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to help fight food insecurity here.

The commissioners later this summer are expected to designate the Greater Washington County Food Bank as the recipient of more than $300,000 in funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

“We are actively having conversations about what we’re going to be doing with that contract in June. We want to speak to more people about possibly going back to Washington County (Food Bank),” Commission Chairman Nick Sherman said. “Any time as elected officials we’re going to see what’s best for our constituents and the food insecure. What’s best for them and the taxpayers?”

The local food bank provides food to community pantries across the county.

In December 2020, Sherman and then-board chairwoman Diana Irey Vaughan voted to change the designation to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, while Maggi opposed the move. At the time, Sherman and Irey Vaughan raised concerns about the Washington County Food Bank’s performance and thought using the Pittsburgh organization would improve distribution.

Now, Sherman, along with Maggi and Commissioner Electra Janis, who is vice chairwoman for the Greater Washington County Food Bank, appear to be ready to move the county’s funding back to the local non-profit.

“There were some glaring issues that were happening at that time,” Sherman said of the change more than five years ago. “We are working closely with (the Washington County Food Bank). They have a new board and new executive director and they’re moving in a really good direction. We’re going to look at what’s best for Washington County and see if that contract can be moved.”

While all of the county’s State Food Purchase Program, which is expected to be about $330,000 this year, sent to the Pittsburgh food bank was used to help Washington County residents, the commissioners had concerns that corporate and private donations were merely going into a general fund. By designating the money for the Greater Washington County Food Bank – which continued operating even without that government funding – the organization will once again be viewed as the main provider of services in the county.

“I know there was a lot of blowback when they changed it in the last administration and the three (current commissioners) feel like it should be brought back to the county,” Janis said. “We are fully confident that the food bank has the ability to take this on and help the food pantries better than ever before. They’re expanding, they’re getting a large facility, more staff and more volunteers.”

Maggi, who voted against the decision to go with the Pittsburgh food bank in 2020, reiterated his support for the Greater Washington County Food Bank with its “new management and new direction” in recent years.

“I think we need to look at them again,” Maggi said. “I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about them.”

Greater Washington County Food Bank President and CEO George Omiros could not be reached for comment Friday.

During Thursday night’s commissioners meeting, the board tabled a motion to approve the $330,000 payment to Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank for the 2025-26 year. A decision on which organization should receive funding for the next fiscal year will likely be made in July.