Pittsburgh Realtors® Provide Meals Through Northside Program

Members of the Realtors® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh volunteer for numerous community involvement projects throughout the year. Earlier this month, RAMP members provided and served lunch to those in need through the Northside Congregate Feeding Program, also known as Daily Bread. The program serves meals three times a week to those without a home or who are underemployed. Over the past 25 years, this feeding program has served over 250,000 meals to those in need.

In a unique twist, RAMP brought a food truck to provide a freshly cooked meal to the folks who rely on this program for a daily meal.

The RAMP Community Service Committee wanted to work with the Northside program, but considered options of how to provide a meal. With the restaurant industry facing challenges during COVID-19 restrictions, the Realtors® decided to work with a local restaurant to bring food to the location. The popularity of food trucks has allowed many restaurants to expand their offerings on the road. Bringing the restaurant to those who may not normally have access to it was a win-win situation. Realtor® Jason Corna reached out to the owner of Carnivores in Oakmont and booked their food truck to provide lunch for 120 people.

The funding for the project was made possible by a Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® Century of Service grant. PAR’s Century of Service grants allow local Realtor® organizations to help make a difference in their communities during the state association’s 100th anniversary.

Realtor® Michelle Schocker helped coordinate the project and said RAMP’s members served more than 160 meals to local Pittsburghers in need.

“Together with the Carnivores Food Truck, who grilled burgers and hot dogs accompanied by soup and fries, we gave back to those less fortunate in our community. PAR’s Century of Service grant made this day possible,” Schocker said. “It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, but what was even more beautiful than the sunshine that day was the gratitude expressed by the patrons we had the pleasure to serve. What a wonderful opportunity to give back. And Daily Bread’s organizer Bob Maravalli said we raised the bar to an all-time high with the food truck.”

Dawn Bierker, a newly elected member of RAMP’s board of directors, said volunteering for this charity left an impression on her. “I think it’s absolutely critical, especially during the COVID challenges, to offer assistance to people. COVID has affected people differently. It’s a great feeling to give back to the community.”