Hunger Action Month With The Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project

More than two dozen local businesses and organizations collaborate to raise awareness about hunger in the Western Pennsylvania region.

Posted by Sue Kerr, September 7, 2012 at 05:53 pm

September is the official "Hunger Action" month designated by Feeding America to raise awareness about the impact of hunger in our communities and dozens of local organizations are responding to their growing concern among our neighbors.

The latest data indicates that 1 in 7 Pennsylvania residents are 'food insecure' or essentially not sure that they will have enough food to meet their basic health and nutrition needs each day. These include seniors living on fixed incomes, children and working adults whose income does not keep pace with expenses and the rising prices of food. Many of these families turn to a local food pantry to stretch their food dollars.

Our project collects new & gently used tote bags for the food pantries to distribute instead of disposable bags. To date, we've collected nearly 19,000 bags to distribute in a 12 county region. We invite you to join dozens of your neighbors taking action during September to raise awareness and fight hunger.

The full list of Pittsburgh Tote Project events during September Hunger Action Month. :

Sept. 8 - Women's Walk for Peace (Northside) 10 am – 1 pm

Sept. 13 – BlogMob – gathing of bloggers at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for tour and discussion 5 – 7:30 pm

Sept 21. - Park(ing) Day Pittsburgh (Downtown/Toonseum) – 8 am – 4 pm

Sept. 22 - Maker's Faire (Northside) - 9 am – 3 pm

Sept. 23 - Harvest Festival East End Coop (East End Food Co-op) 12 – 4 pm

Sept. 25-28 - Canstruction Tote Bag Drive (Downtown)

Sept. 27 - Hunger Action Happy Hour (Toonseum) 5 – 7:30 pm

Sept 28 – Food Truck Friday Tote Bag Drive - Strip District 10 AM – 3 PM

Sept. 28 - WYEP Member Tote Drive (Schenley Plaza) 7 – 11 pm

Sept. 29 - Allegheny County Green Festival (Hartwood Acres) 10 am – 4 pm

We’ve partnered with dozens of organizations in the region to incorporate tote bag drives as tools to raise awareness about hunger and inspire people to take action.

Corporate sponsors include Concepts Management of Forest Hills, The Toonseum, Duquesne Light, 4C Foods, SnapSac and other companies who have pledged bags to help the project reach its goal of collecting 5,000 tote bags during September. Sponsors will be recognized at the Hunger Action Happy Hour on September 27, hosted by The Toonseum.

Tote4Pgh collects bags through permanent drop-off spots, formal tote bag drives and by partnering with corporations and companies to redirect their excess bags and other “swag” items. There are currently 16 permanent drop-off spots. The project hopes to open a 17^th location in Carnegie during September. State Representative Jake Wheatley’s constituent office in the Hill District will serve as a temporary drop-off throughout September as will State Representative Martin Schmotzer’s office in the South Hills.

It is not too late for your family, group or coworkers to get involved! You can organize a simple tote bag drive, volunteer for an event or simply spread the word about the impact of hunger in our community.

Useful links to take action during September

Top Ten Grocery Items You Never Thought To Donate

Opportunities for Families and Children to Volunteer

Eight Unique Ways You Can Take Action To Fight Hunger

Please contact us @Tote4Pgh for more information!

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victoria impavido June 15, 2013 at 03:17 pm

You might try looking behind the apartments on the Sherman block (1900 block of Monongahela) because…Read More there are always stray cats behind there. Don't go alone because it doesn't look very safe. Start looking behind the Boomerang bar all the way to behind Maldini's.

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Mary June 13, 2013 at 10:38 pm

I've been going to Frick Park for over 40 years and I've seen plenty of off-leash dogs lunge at each…Read More other. And I don't care how cute you think your dog is I don't want it coming up and sniffing me.

Troy Gavazzi June 14, 2013 at 07:17 am

Shannon, your comment welcoming RPD "finally bringing some sanity" implies that the rest…Read More of us lack it. Wy would you think that people who want illegal and dangerous activities eliminated and enforced? The fact is that many have had dangerous and even harmful encounters with unleashed dogs even though you "have never seen it". I do agree with you that we should all "just go to the park and have some fun". That would best be done of all dog owners kept their dogs properly leashed and utilize the OLEAs.

Erin Corbett June 17, 2013 at 02:20 pm

I have two small terriers who, as being terriers, must be leashed at all times while outside due to…Read More their strong instinct to search out squirrels, chimpunks, and other small rodents. The only time I take them off-leash is in the designated area that is fenced, and they always have a great time. My husband and I decided after one of these visits to walk a few miles on the trails, which we'd never done before. And I can honestly say that we will never do it again. My dogs are friendly with other dogs when all involved are off-leash, but my smallest dog gets quite insecure when she is leashed and a strange dog approaches her. I mean, if you were restrained and a complete stranger approached you without any warning, it would be quite startling! Such as it is for my little one. In order to prevent a possible altercation, I have to physically scoop her up because when she gets frightened it's possible that she could bite. She IS an animal. We have to remember this. Anyway, this particular day on the trails got off to quite a horrible start, as we were walking along and an off-leash dog approached and appeared to be stalking toward my dogs. Its owner made no attempt to restrain him or her and only yelled out that the dog was friendly. My smallest dog sensed the other dog's energy and jumped up on my legs to be picked up. I did so, and the other dog CHARGED me and my dog. My husband was trying to restrain our other dog, who was now barking at this off-leash dog, and the entire experience left me extremely shaken up. I informed the man that it was against the law to have his dog off-leash and he was not in the least apologetic. Shannon, the only thing I agree with about your comments is that yes, we should all be able to just get along. Although most dogs were off-leash this day at the park, a vast majority of people, when they saw us approaching, would leash their dogs. For that, I really appreciate it. But for everyone's safety I really do think that people need to start obeying the law and leashing their dogs at all times, except in the designated areas. It's for their safety as well as the safety of everyone else using the park. Thank you.