Each year, the Westmoreland County Food Bank recognizes its core of over 6,000 volunteers for all of the work that they accomplish in assisting the Food Bank during a luncheon, which is held in the Westmoreland County Food Bank Warehouse. In 2018, volunteers donated nearly 100,000 hours to the Westmoreland County Food Bank (WCFB). “That is the equivalent of nearly 48 additional staff,” said Jennifer Miller, Chief Executive Officer with the Westmoreland County Food Bank. “That is just amazing to me and I am in awe of their generosity, which is a true example of selfless giving.”

Director of Volunteers & Food Drives, Louise Wilhelm affirmed, “whereas, all of our volunteers are priceless, we take the time to recognize a stand out individual and group that have shown exemplary service to our neighbors in need.” This year’s honorees include Robbyn Slavin of Greensburg as Volunteer of the Year and Comcast as Volunteer Group of the Year.

Robbyn Slavin wears many hats; she is the volunteer coordinator, record keeper and civil rights trainer for the Charter Oak United Methodist Food Pantry.  For five or more years, she has volunteered for the food pantry, making everyone feel welcomed, with a smile on her face.  Betsy Hunt, pantry coordinator said, “Robbyn is always punctual with reports and willing to learn and serve.  She has shown remarkable strength after losing her home to a fire last year.”  It is not unusual to have her whole family supporting the food pantry with whatever is needed.  She and her husband Ron are both veterans and they have three children.

Comcast gives back to the communities they serve and consider it a core value of their company’s culture.  Each year, they celebrate this commitment coast to coast and around the world through Comcast Cares Day.  Comcast Cares Day began in 2001.  Since then they engaged one million volunteers to “Make Change Happen” in hundreds of communities.  Locally, the Keystone Regional Comcast Cares employees, families and friends have been coming to the Westmoreland County Food Bank for three years now to pack over 1,300 CSFP Senior Food Boxes with around 80 volunteers.  Matching funds donated to date are over $6,000.  Comcast has been a Hunger Action Month sponsor over the years and now a Volunteer Appreciation Lunch sponsor.  Cheryl McCabe has been a key partner in facilitating the Comcast Cares Day each year.  She engages Comcast employees to participate and works very closely with WCFB to determine the best plan of action.

For more information about the Westmoreland County Food Bank and how you can help volunteer to help feed the food insecure of our community, please call Louise Wilhelm at 724-468-8660 extension 13 or email her at louise@westmorelandfoodbank.org.  You may also visit their website at www.westmorelandfoodbank.org.

left to right: Cheryl McCabe (Comcast), Lloyd Crago (Comcast), Robbyn Slavin (Charter Oak United Methodist Food Pantry)

About Westmoreland County Food Bank

The Westmoreland County Food Bank serves over 31,000 area residents each year. WCFB currently has 60 member agencies in their network of emergency feeding sites.  Of those, 43 are food pantries in which low-income consumers are able to access emergency food assistance throughout the month. Last year (2018), the Food Bank distributed over 6 million pounds of food.  Fifty percent of WCFB’s food comes from the federal and state governments and the remaining fifty percent from local donations, food drives, and Feeding America.  Administrative and fundraising costs account for five percent of the Food Bank’s operating budget.