Less Fortunate Receive Helping Hand In East Liberty

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Hundreds of local families in need received a helping hand today. Volunteers distributed 25-pound boxes of food in East Liberty.

Boxes and boxes of food were piled high on the street outside of the East End Cooperative Ministry's food pantry and soup kitchen.

"Today they will be receiving a food box full of non-perishable items such as cereal, rice, spaghetti, peanut butter," said Jessica Webb, of Feed the Children.

The goods were possible because of a partnership between Feed the Children, an international charity providing resources to those in need, and Concord Hospitality, which operates 14 hotels in the Pittsburgh area.

John Henderson of East Liberty received some of the food. He's battling cancer and says making ends meet is a real challenge.

"It helps me out greatly because, see, it gives me things that I normally can't go and buy," said Henderson.

The families didn't just receive food, they're also receiving four boxes from Avon filled with all different types of supplies like shoes and even skin care products.

"It is utterly amazing," said Justin Blair, of Concord Hospitality. "It is like a gift to us to give to them every year, and this being our fourth year, it just gets better and better every year."

"It's very moving, it's very emotional because these families have never had to ask for help sometimes, and so coming here and being able to provide this hope and these resources for these families in need is very emotional," Webb added.

Forty volunteers from Concord Hospitality and the East End Cooperative Ministry distributed the 25-pound boxes.

"Volunteers really are truly the greatest people in the world," said Henderson.

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