For Lighthouse food bank, now's time to receive, give
The Lighthouse Foundation receives a wealth of donations for its food bank during the holiday season. However, the giving pace is not maintained.
Executive Director Cindy Cipoletti said donations can triple during November and December.
“It falls off in January,” she said. “So what we've learned to do is plan for that.”
The foundation saves food from its holiday surplus and distributes that from January through March.
“Fortunately for us we always have enough food,” Cipoletti said. “We've never been in the position where we don't have enough food to supply for all the people who need it.”
The foundation serves northern Allegheny County and Butler County, with a location in Middlesex Township that distributes once a week.
It's not just the number of donations that increases during the holidays, but also the number of people served.
This year, the number served jumped from 474 households and 1,887 people in August to 579 households and 2,271 people in October, and then up to 649 households and 2,749 people in November.
That's not counting those who go to the Butler City Farmers Market once a month for fresh produce.
Cipoletti said one reason for the increase in numbers served is that the foundation provides turkeys and hams for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If it can't provide the actual items, it gives out Giant Eagle gift cards for them.
Cipoletti also cited the foundation's annual toy drive.
“That toy shop is only open to people who are food bank recipients, so people know that to be eligible for a toy shop, they need to be members of the food bank,” Cipoletti said.
She also spoke of temporary unemployment accounting for the increase, such as landscapers or others who work outdoors.
“We get people who are coming temporarily during those colder months when things are a bit leaner for them,” she said.
Cipoletti said that despite the majority of the donations being made over the holidays, the foundation is the recipient of grants and private donations year-round.
“There is always generosity throughout the year,” she said. “Butler, for the size of the community, and northern Allegheny County, they're very generous for as many people as there are.”
People are eligible to come to the food bank twice per month. The Middlesex Township location is at 1302 E. Cruikshank Road.
