AJ Owen is a community activist and arts organizer, living in the South Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He’s inspired millions and made national headlines after establishing a food pantry in his front yard. Owen and his sons had a head start with the campaign. We sent them out to make the first $150 grocery trip. They filled their pantry with staple nonperishables and snacks from ALDI, providing healthy food to families who need it most.
That changed on October 26, when Owen posted the unfolding saga—complete with adventure-movie-level twists and turns—on TikTok. His video went super viral almost immediately, garnering over 16,000,000 views! The video featured the community food pantry, along with Owen’s dedication to serving those around him.
Since opening, the pantry has already provided urgent relief to over 100 families in the community. In a deeply moving testimony, Owen explained his motivation for starting the pantry.
“People need to eat. People deserve to be fed — it’s no different than me inviting you over to my house for dinner,” – AJ Owen
The positive outcome of Owen’s attempt has encouraged an outpouring of kindness in the neighborhood. A sizable anonymous cash donation came in shortly after the inaugural video dropped, enabling him to expand his pantry even bigger. In a follow-up video explaining this amazing gift, Owen opened up about how he felt.
“My body started shaking. I started crying. This was the best cry ever, because whatever you want to believe, an angel truly came down and blessed us that day,” – AJ Owen
This response video went on to receive millions of views and a flood of comments from people moved by Owen’s artistry. Others wrote about their own experiences with emails that changed everything. They made the thrilling commitment to produce similar mini food pantries in their own neighborhoods.
Owen’s food pantry has garnered national attention and is filling up on great support, with donations coming in from local police officers who have been restocking the shelves. Additionally, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Yahya Black and his fiancée visited Owen’s pantry, bringing with them “a ton of food” to further assist the initiative.
Even with the increased attention and demand for his pantry output, Owen isn’t about to throttle back. As a criminal defense, injury, and civil rights attorney, he continues fighting for the often forgotten in his community.
“Come on — grab a meal, grab a drink. Whatever you need, I’m here,” – AJ Owen
