Now approaching its sixth anniversary in its location at 139 Huber Street, Hastings, the Saint Bernard Food Pantry has reached another milestone: more than nine million pounds of food distributed. Father Thaddeus Rettger, O.S.B., (photo above, at left) and a group of volunteers established the pantry to serve the northern Cambria County area.
The present building was constructed when the food bank in Carrolltown was closed. The present set-up is quite different from just a few years ago.

The last time this magazine’s staff visited Hastings, volunteers busily packed boxes of canned and other goods, and registered patrons went inside to pick up their orders. Now, the parking lot is filled with cars, but that’s just for the volunteers. Some items have been delivered in advance. For other items, supply trucks come in and the goods are unloaded on pallets which are placed in a semicircle in front of the building. Each volunteer handles a certain product, i.e., potatoes, cucumbers, canned goods, eggs, milk, and other items, and the registered families have the items placed in their vehicles. The lines are long, but the coordinated effort makes things go smoothly.

The group works with various partners, including Food for Families, the Greater Food Bank of Pittsburgh, Johnstown Food Bank, United Way, several government programs, local churches, scouts, schools, rotary and civic organizations, local farmers and individuals as sources of foods and monetary donations.

Father Thaddeus notes that one in every four families in the region qualifies for assistance. The group does a twice-a-month distribution for seniors and low-income families and a once-a-month “big give away” helping countless individuals and families. Volunteers even take products off-site for distribution elsewhere.

Father Thaddeus notes the the volunteers for the food pantry are primarily from Saint Bernard Parish, where he is pastor and from other area churches of all denominations, including active and retired ministers and even a self-declared atheist. Their common interest and bond is in helping to serve their neighbors in need.

For more photos visit this link.