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Proud to be from Pittsburgh: Northside Food Pantry

PITTSBURGH — Sometimes you see something so moving, you have to act.

“The shelves were bare,” recalled Northside Food Pantry volunteer Darlene Rushing. “The shelves were bare and there were hundreds of people in line outside trying to provide for their families.”

Rushing took out her cellphone, snapped a picture of the empty shelves, posted it on Facebook and asked her friends, "What do we need to do to stock the shelves?"

“Within 24 hours I had received donations. I had friends and neighbors just handing me cash on the street,” she said.

Rushing and four of her friends then organized a group of people who now volunteer and hold food drives.

Thanks to the remarkable power of social media, they created a new website that accepts donations via Amazon, keeping those shelves stocked.

Channel 11’s Peggy Finnegan got an inside look at the food pantry and learned that it is the largest food pantry in Western Pennsylvania.

“This pantry serves close to 1,000 clients a month,” said Rushing.

The pantry is open three times a week, and there's always a line.

“I tell you, without it, I'd be starving.  I'd be starving,” said client Chris Bolla.

“We are pretty grateful for this. There aren't too many places like this around,” said Anthony Clark as he stocked up on supplies.

The Northside Food Pantry shows what it means to be a good neighbor.

“I am a proud Pittsburgher and a proud North Sider, and I am proud to be a part of this pantry,” said Rushing.

A volunteer designed the pantry's website, where you can find an Amazon wish list and other prompts that make it possible to donate your time, money or food.