Mission: Agape Aims to Curb Food Insecurity in Pittsburgh
Mission: Agape, a nonprofit focused on serving families in food desert communities throughout Pittsburgh’s Mon Valley region, has officially launched. Led by the founders of RQM+ and a dynamic board of successful local business leaders, Mission: Agape is set to make a significant impact in addressing food insecurity.
Founded by Kelly and Mike Doyle, Mission: Agape evolved from the McKeesport Agape Center, created in 2020 to address the food insecurity crisis in McKeesport, a Pittsburgh suburb where the food insecurity rate is 31%, far above the state and national averages. McKeesport is the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania and fourth most dangerous in the United States based upon the violent crime rate average per capita, according to a study conducted by the National Council for Home Safety and Security in 2018.
Originally operating out of the Doyle family’s garage, MAC grew rapidly, serving families without access to transportation to reach regional food pantries. By 2022, the program had expanded, leading to the purchase and renovation of a 13,000-square-foot church that became the Agape Center. Mission: Agape’s 40+ volunteers serve over 5,000 people monthly, distributing healthy food, toiletries, and pet food. However, with 110,000 people in the Mon Valley still facing food insecurity, the need remains urgent.
Recognizing the growing demand, the Doyles partnered with RQM+ founders Maria Fagan and Lisa Casavant, whose leadership transformed MAC into Mission: Agape with a broader vision. Fagan and Casavant bring their business acumen from RQM+, a global medical device consulting firm, to the organization’s leadership, ensuring a sustainable, scalable approach to addressing food insecurity.
“When I first volunteered, I was shocked by the level of need so close to home,” said Casavant, board VP. “Feeding these families is more than a calling—it’s an urgent necessity.” board President Fagan added, “We grew RQM+ to be the industry leader in quality, employee satisfaction, and customer satisfaction, and we are applying the same principles here. Mission: Agape is an opportunity to make a transformative impact in people’s lives.”
Mission: Agape is seeking $200,000 in emergency donations to fund infrastructure improvements, including a walk-in refrigerator, freezer room, box truck, and the OrderAhead system, allowing families to order customized food boxes for delivery. The organization also provides holiday support, offering Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas gifts to those in need.
To donate or learn more, visit www.mission-agape.org or contact Kelly Doyle at Kelly@Mission-Agape.org.
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