FRIEDENS, Pa. (WJAC) — As people across the region are in need of food during this pandemic, organizations continue to offer new ways to feed people who are in need.
Friedens Lutheran Church created a way for people to come and get food.
Pastor John Barichivich wanted to find a way to help those in need of food in his town. He was hit with an idea when speaking with other pastors in the area.
“One of the pastors said you know what I’ve done is put a Tupperware bin on our front porch and put food in it and everybody in the neighborhood knows to come and get some If they need some. And I thought well that’s a good idea instead of doing that personally we can do that as a congregation,” said Barichivich.
But the amount of donations grew so much, they had to think of an out of the box design.
“We started off with the little red Tupperware bin under the table and within three or four days people were dropping food off and we quickly outgrew that bin and they continue to donate food to help their fellow neighbors,” said Barichivich.
And that’s when the porch pantry was born.
“It’s very easy you just pull right through. If you want to donate, you can drop it off at the table and continue on. And if you are in need, you just pull up there’s grocery bags set out to where you can get a bag load up your bag and head on,” said Barichivich.
The porch pantry is located behind church on S. Main Street in Friedens. Food and personal hygiene products are available 24/7. And the process is completely anonymous.
“People don’t necessarily want to ask for help but they are in desperate need, but they aren’t going to ask. So, here is a good way as they are able to pull up, no one can see what they’re doing. They can come and get the food and pull away. And you know pride is still in tacked there,” said Barichivich.
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