Ministry Spotlight: Food Ministry and the Spring Food Drive

For the past five years, Deb Mariotti has led Dutilh Church’s Food Ministry Team, a dedicated group of over 35 adults who plan and execute the church’s two annual food drives in the fall and spring. These drives have always focused on providing essential food items to families in the Cranberry and Mars areas facing food insecurity. This year, we are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Inspired Hearts and Hands (IH2), a local nonprofit dedicated to addressing economic hardship and food insecurity through food box distributions, community events, holiday programs, and educational initiatives.

Dutilh’s Food Ministry Team will work alongside IH2 to provide Easter food boxes to families across Butler, Beaver, Allegheny, and Armstrong Counties. These boxes will reach over 21 school districts, a homeless shelter, subsidized housing developments, and veterans communities, ensuring that those most in need receive support. IH2 collaborates with school administrators and housing directors to eliminate travel barriers by delivering boxes directly to schools and housing communities.

Mindy Schnitgen, IH2’s founder, was inspired to start the organization over 15 years ago after participating in a service project. When she couldn’t find a similar opportunity near her home, she decided to create one. What began with providing Thanksgiving baskets to 65 families has grown into a full-fledged organization with year-round programs. Dutilh’s partnership became an answered prayer for Mindy, who had been seeking guidance on how to sustain and expand their mission amid increasing need.

“I only had so much financial and in-kind resources. I prayed daily for guidance and help. Surely, God had put me in this place for such a time as this. I couldn’t see why He had set me down this course only to have it crumble,” Mindy said. “That is when I met Pastor Tom and Debbie (Mariotti), as well as an amazing foundation, The Wright Promise. Just when I needed it, right on time, God sent help. You all are an answer to prayer, evidence that God is listening when I come to Him… This is a God-sized effort, and I can only do this if a God-sized group of inspired hearts and hands does it with me. This is OUR effort. This is OUR calling. This is OUR message from God. Feed my hungry. Clothe my people.”

We invite Dutilh Church members to step forward in love and generosity for our neighbors in need. The deadline for donations for this year’s Spring Food Drive is Sunday, April 6th at 12:00 p.m. We are still looking for several key items to ensure every box is filled. For items still needed CLICK HERE. We also have several volunteer positions still needing filled for sorting, delivering, and packing. You can find those opportunities here. 

“Can you spare one hour to help those who are food insecure by checking, sorting, or packing food boxes?” Deb Mariotti asked. “The food ministry needs many hands, but it is only a short time commitment. Can you be the hands and feet of Jesus as we are called to be?”

For more information on IH2 and their many programs, please visit www.inspiredheartsandhands.com.