Plum, PA woman leading effort to feed children in Wilkinsburg

Story by Francesa Sacco. Photos by Nate Smallwood.

For the past five years, Linda Lafferty has helped feed Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania’s hungry children.

Each week, 550 students from Kelly and Turner elementary schools receive food packages courtesy of Lafferty and Blessings in a Backpack, a nonprofit program that provides food for the weekends to children who might otherwise go hungry. Lafferty introduced the program to the Wilkinsburg School District in April 2011 in an effort to give back.

“I don’t think people realize how bad childhood hunger is in this country, and I can’t even imagine a child not having enough to eat,” said Lafferty, 69, of Plum. “I have roots in Wilkinsburg. My children went to school there. It was almost a given that I would go back.”

A retired Pittsburgh Public Schools librarian, Lafferty has witnessed the effects hunger can have on a child. She said the kids know how to ration their weekly food items.

“I invite people to see what I do to encourage others to take up the cause,” Lafferty said. “Looks can be deceiving. There are a lot of hungry people in this country.”

Kelly Elementary Principal Kerry Francis said Lafferty is fulfilling a need in the district. She said every child at Kelly Elementary receives a bag.

“Linda puts everything into the program,” Francis said. “She goes above and beyond. It is definitely a positive program for our district.”

Volunteers are required to fundraise on their own. Lafferty said local companies, communities and churches have been helpful in aiding her effort. Each week, she said, she purchases $1,200 in food, an undertaking she wouldn’t be able to do alone.

“I send everyone a personal thank-you note,” she said. “I keep them informed. It’s important to me to let my donors know how their money is being spent.”