Patrons of the South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) food bank have a new resource: outdoor food lockers, available 24/7 (advance registration required) at its Bethel Park location. The lockers offer a new level of convenience and privacy for families facing food insecurity.
The lockers, installed last November, allow registered pantry participants to pick up groceries on their own schedule using a secure access code. The system is modeled after one launched by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank at its Homestead location.
“This makes sense to really meet people in a context of their own convenience,” said SHIM executive director Jim Guffey. “A lot of our food pantry clients are working individuals. Getting here can be strenuous and put stress on them if they’re getting off at 5 o’clock and try to get here before 6 o’clock [at the] ending of the food pantry.”
How it works
The lockers have freezer, refrigerator and dry storage compartments, allowing SHIM to offer fresh produce, dairy and meat alongside shelf-stable goods. Participants place orders through an online “order ahead” platform, where they can select the items they need. Once the order is packed, they receive a code to access their assigned locker.
The registration process is like the one for SHIM’s traditional food pantry program. No documentation is required, but participants must provide basic household and income information through a self-declaration form.
For those facing urgent needs, staff can also prepare a general food order without requiring the full online ordering process.
Participants may place up to two orders per month. SHIM has 16 lockers, with space available for future expansion if demand grows.
Growing need in the South Hills
The food locker launch comes as SHIM continues to see historically high levels of need. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, SHIM served approximately 1,900 individuals per month through the food pantry. Today, that number has more than doubled to between 4,000 and 4,100 people monthly — and it’s not declining.
About 10 to 11 percent of pantry participants are Mt. Lebanon residents. Staff also emphasize that 85 percent of those registering for the pantry are either employed or living on a fixed income, challenging common misconceptions about who relies on food assistance.
“We certainly don’t want any family [or] any individual in Mt. Lebanon or anywhere in the South Hills fighting food insecurity alone,” said Guffey. “We’re here as a resource.”
SHIM leaders hope to reach residents who may never have considered using a food pantry but could benefit from the added flexibility and privacy.
Community support during this time is also critical. After a strong wave of donations during the winter holidays, food contributions traditionally slow in late winter and early spring.
In addition to food assistance, SHIM connects families to other services and referrals throughout the South Hills, recognizing that food insecurity is often linked to broader financial or social challenges.
Residents interested in learning more about the food lockers or registering can contact SHIM’s basic needs director Molly Penderville at mpenderville@shimcares.org [1]. Information is also available at shimcares.org [2].