Wilkinsburg Community Ministry

Who Can Visit?

WCM is open to neighbors in Wilkinsburg and nearby areas, including East Homewood, East Liberty, Park Place, Regent Square, Swissvale, Braddock, Edgewood, Forest Hills, and Penn Hills. Everyone is welcome regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or creed. The pantry serves more than 5,000 neighbors every month, including seniors, people with disabilities, and families facing economic hardship.

How Often You Can Visit?

You can visit up to twice a week.

Good to Know

Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time. If the line is long, there's a chance you won't be served that visit.

Food & Essentials

WCM provides a wide variety of fresh and packaged foods. Fresh produce comes from local gardeners, Grow Pittsburgh, nearby farm markets, and a local wholesaler in the winter months. Through a partnership with 412 Food Rescue, the pantry also receives rescued food from stores like Giant Eagle, Market District, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods, along with items from local bakeries and food cooperatives. The shelves carry dry goods, canned foods, frozen items, and meats. The selection changes regularly, with enough variety to make a different meal every day of the year.

How to Pick Up

WCM uses a client-choice model, so you shop for your own food. You walk through the pantry, pick the items your household will eat, and leave the rest for someone else. This approach is designed to give every neighbor choice and dignity.

Additional Support

A mobile food pantry brings food directly to several neighborhoods throughout the week, making it easier for neighbors who have trouble getting to the store-front location. You can find the current mobile pantry schedule at wcm15221.org.

WCM also runs an urban garden near the pantry that grows vegetables, plants, and herbs, with a learning component for adults and children.

Ways to Give

WCM accepts both money and in-kind donations. You can give online through Give Lively or Network for Good. You can also send a check to 702/704 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 (Attn: Executive Director), donate through your Donor-Advised Fund, give stocks or bonds by contacting caring@wcm15221.org, or give through the United Way as Agency Number 242.

For food and item donations, drop items off at the pantry during open hours or order from the Amazon Pantry Wish List. Current needs include rice, red beans, pasta, hearty canned soups, canned fruit, snack items like granola bars and crackers, tea, instant coffee, dog and cat food, feminine hygiene products, toiletries, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, laundry soap, and cleaning supplies.

How to Join the Team?

WCM welcomes volunteers for a range of activities including weekend gardening, sorting and distributing food donations, organizing shelves, and restocking the pantry. You can also join the mobile pantry team at any of its distribution sites. To get started, call (412) 241-8072 or email volunteers@wcm15221.org.