Charitable Foundation Pays It Forward

During the federal government shutdown this winter, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank provided nearly 15,000 pounds of food and other necessities to nearly 300 federal employees who were working without paychecks at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Now the Allegheny County Airport Authority Charitable Foundation is paying that gift forward with a recently approved $5,000 grant to the food bank.

Board President Steve Baldwin said the foundation intended to help fund lunches for federal employees had the 35-day shutdown lasted longer.

“When the shutdown ended, we were still in the mindset of wanting to be helpful, so we decided a grant directed toward the food bank would be appropriate,” said Baldwin, who is also the JetBlue General Manager at PIT. “The Pittsburgh food bank is in need of those resources and it’s important to give members of the community warm meals.”

According to the food bank, a grant that size can provide more than 25,000 meals, helping families in the 11 counties they serve to overcome food insecurity.

During the shutdown, the food bank’s delivery was large enough to serve 300 households and establish a temporary food pantry at the airport.

“The adversity of the shutdown brought out the best in everyone: those that stepped up, the employees that worked without pay and the community that came to the rescue,” said Dale Cottrill, Chief Financial Officer o