Food Bank Dealing With Another ‘Obstacle’

The Greater Washington County Food Bank wants residents to know that they are not closing their doors and will continue their mission of the past 35 years to feed those in need. The organization, Tuesday, released a detailed response to the recent move by Washington County Commissioners to remove $280,000 of federal and state food aid and re-allocate it with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to oversee administration and distribution of food products. Commissioner’s Chairman Diana Irey-Vaughn and fellow Republican Nick Sherman voted in favor of the move. Democrat Larry Maggi voted against. Irey-Vaughn and Sherman say they were responding to recent complaints and the consolidation of numerous food pantries within the Greater Washington COunty Food Bank. They call the commissioner’s move another ‘obstacle’ in a year that has seen them distribute three times as much food as normal. A transition meeting with the Pittsburgh Food Bank is to occur in the coming weeks.