The South Hills Food Pantry occasionally gets an expired can of powdered milk or jar of jelly.
But the generosity of donors and volunteers keeps the program going at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon, leaders say.
"It's meant to be. I never know how it is going to happen. It is up to God," said organizer Danni Allman of Upper St. Clair.
The food pantry specializes in assisting South Hills residents who have no way to transport groceries home. They are disabled, elderly, have heart issues or diabetes, or are without a car.
"Some have no one to talk to, no family," Allman said. "Some have no stoves and cut up the food into a toaster oven."
Allman said the pantry relies on big donors such as Curves, local schools, the AARP, Scouts, churches and a group called Graduates of Upper St. Clair.
It takes people to give extra effort when they deliver.
"People donate cake mixes, but other items are required to make the cakes," Allman said. "Volunteers look for sales and buy eggs to deliver, too."
Suzanne Good of Mt. Lebanon has been volunteering for a dozen years. She enjoyed bringing her children -- Stephen, 18; Anthony, 16; Kira, 14; and William, 11 -- along as she made deliveries. One son learned to drive while they were dropping off food.
The children would help the seniors put away the perishable food items or read labels of cans to the blind.
Interacting with youngsters had a positive effect on the recipients, she said. On future trips, senior citizens would ask about her children with real interest.
"Over time the relationship with the people becomes more personal," Good said.
More than 60 homes, with a total of 110 people, are registered to receive deliveries. The number of volunteers varies.
"The people we help are of all ages and in different circumstances. They are very nice people. Some have suffered hardships," Good said.
