The Speed Family Blessing Box & Pantry is moving, again.
After six relocations in as many years, Organizer Chelsey Speed said the nonprofit has found its forever home at a former church at 1747 Leishman Ave. in Arnold.
“We never have to move again,” she said. “It’s one of the biggest blessings of my life.”
The group purchased the former Abundant Life Church, which has sat vacant for years. Until then, giveaways will take place at Reclamation Church in New Kensington.
At 1,200 square feet, Speed said, the new site is the perfect size and comes with the perk of ample, flat parking.
“It’s so great for people that use scooters or don’t get around that great,” said Speed, who works full time as a Highmark palliative care account manager.
“And, I feel like it’s a full-circle moment because I used to attend services there with my husband.”
The Blessing Box started in 2020 with a small “little library-type box” in front of Speed’s then-home in Penn Hills. As it grew, they sought nonprofit status in 2021 and moved into Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Verona, before outgrowing that space and moving in 2022 to the Arnold No. 2 fire department’s bingo hall.
At that time, the pantry served about 700 people a month with supplemental food, shelf-stable items and toiletries.
That number has more than doubled to 1,500 people a month, including those who stop at the group’s regular pop-up pantries. They also respond to emergency calls from state agencies, home health organizations and fire departments for help with pajamas, toys and essentials needed by fire victims and children removed from their homes.
In 2024, the fire hall was sold and the pantry moved to Real Life Church at the top of Drey Street, where they remained, temporarily, until partnering with Reclamation Church in New Kensington for the past year and a half.
“We had a good stay there and were surprised when the pastor told us insurance would be too costly too keep us there,” Speed said. “The pastor has agreed to let us stay until renovations are done at the new building.”
Requests for comment to Reclamation Church were not immediately returned.
Speed expects to open at the Leishman Avenue location Dec. 1. Renovations are underway. Work includes a new loading dock, a wheelchair-accessible ramp and an interior gutting.
They also will get a $19,000 roof at no cost, thanks to Schultheis Bros. Heating, Cooling and Roofing.
Owner Katie Rullo said Speed contacted her to ask about a discount for repairs, but after talking, Rullo realized the roof needed to be replaced. Rullo said she believes businesses should look for ways to help their communities.
“I understand how important the Speed Family Blessing Box is to our community and how many families they help with their organization,” Rullo said. “Providing a new roof not only helps their organization have a strong start in their new community and building, it helps ensure they have a safe and protected environment to continuing helping as many people as possible.”
Arnold Mayor Shannon Santucci has been rooting for the Blessing Box to return to the city.
She said she’s seen and heard firsthand the impact the pantry has on the community, especially in her role as owner of the Lazarus’ Tomb Coffeehouse, a community outreach ministry.
“A lot of people come in and have shared that the pantry is an asset to them,” she said. “I’m glad it looks like this move back to Arnold will be permanent.”
Speed and her 15 volunteers believe the new pantry will enable them to grow their outreach.
She said more people are leaning on them for help with items not covered by food stamps, such as pet food and toilet paper.
“At the beginning of the month, a lot of people are good. By the third week, they can’t make the dollars stretch,” she said. “We want to get them healthy produce and things they need during that crucial stretch.
“This has been a long time coming, but it’s ours and it’s a forever home for our mission.”
