AJ Owen, a South Hills Community Resident in Pittsburgh, PA, has certainly stolen his share of hearts. He did it by opening a food pantry in his front yard! Owen’s program began with a modest aim — to provide neighborhood families with a $150 grocery trip on Steelers Sunday. What started as a small idea has quickly evolved into an amazing grassroots movement.
On October 26, Owen highlighted his self-created food pantry in a viral TikTok video. Drawing inspiration from Campus Kitchen’s Wrangler, Wong packed big bins with nonperishable grocery items and snacks purchased from ALDI. The resulting video not only stopped traffic, it crashed the Internet, going viral on every major social media platform. That single video has now surpassed 16 million views to date. It has gotten many thousands of comments, tripling visibility for the food pantry’s mission.
In fact, Owen calculated that because of his work, at least 100 families in his community have already received economic or environmental benefits. Donations began to roll in, and local police officers led the way with their donations. Just as quickly, he saw the growing demand for just such an initiative.
“My body started shaking. I started crying,” Owen expressed when he received an anonymous cash donation to support his pantry. The envelope contained hundreds of dollars along with a note that read, “May God prosper and bless your food pantry.” After receiving his first unexpected gesture, Rashaad’s resolve to help those in his community has only deepened.
The food pantry’s mission is about more than just filling stomachs. Owen is passionate about making his town a welcoming place for residents and visitors alike. “People need to eat. People deserve to be fed. It’s no different than me inviting you over to my house for dinner,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of community support.
In a surprise visit that underscored the pantry’s growing recognition, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Yahya Black and his fiancée delivered “a ton of food” to Owen’s front yard pantry. Their visit came to shine a light on the solidarity that has formed around Owen’s project, inspiring thousands of people to donate.
Owen continues to be personally involved in this community service project. “Come on — grab a meal, grab a drink. Whatever you need, I’m here,” he invites anyone who may benefit from the pantry’s resources. His commitment is not about to let up, as he intends to redouble this vital work in the years to come.
