Tote Bags Needed For Food Pantries

Pete Bouvy didn’t want his students to think that raising money was the only way to help those who are less fortunate.

So the Mt. Lebanon High School math teacher and others teamed up with The Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project to help local pantries bring in much-needed canvass bags, food and a few dollars.

“We’re always looking for different things to do,” Bouvy said. “So other than just raising money, the kids wanted to do something different.”

Students at Mt. Lebanon worked from Oct. 24 to 29 collecting bags, money and food to help the Tote Bag Project and the local food pantries as they try to help others.

Bouvy said some students spent time collecting bags outside of the . But most people thought they wanted money rather than bags, so the students used some of the donated money to buy canned goods that could be donated to the pantries.

In all, the students donated 160 bags, two full boxes of food and $160 to the charities.

“It was a win-win,” Bouvy said, adding that additional money would be donated to the Tote Bag Project. “I think they learned there are other ways to help people than just with money. It was a little more legwork. It’s more about service.”

Sue Kerr, co-chair of , said something as simple as donating reusable bags to local food pantries can save money.

“I think they did a good job,” Kerr said. “This will help 80 families. This touches anyone who has every carried groceries (from the food banks).”

She said most food banks are more concerned about feeding those in need rather than worrying about supplying reusable bags. But they’re important because they save money for the food bank and make it easier for their customers to carry food home.

“It’s not a matter of charity,” Kerr said. “It’s empowering them.”

For more information about the Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project, go to www.tote4pgh.blogspot.com. You can donate your extra tote bags by dropping them off during the holidays in Café Solstice at 615 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon.

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