The American Dairy Association Northeast has been working overtime during the COVID-19 crisis to support both the region’s dairy farmers and the residents of the five-state area that the association covers. Not only has the organization donated tens of thousands of gallons of milk to families in need over the past few weeks, but it has also put together a comprehensive list of counties and areas in Pennsylvania where free student meals are being distributed. This is essential information right now, as nearly 45% of public school students in PA are eligible for free breakfasts and lunches, and rely on these as consistent, nutritious meals throughout the regular school week.
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In most PA school districts, even if your child doesn’t usually qualify for free or reduced-price meals, these meals are available to you! We’ve pulled some regional highlights below, but please check the American Dairy Association’s list to find the location nearest to you.
In Harrisburg, where free breakfast and lunch are provided to all students during the regular school year, the state capital’s school district is offering free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals to students actively enrolled in the District. Through partnerships with PDE and the National School Lunch Program, the Harrisburg School District is using food from its own supply and from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank for meals at six pick-up locations: Foose School, Rowland Academy, John Harris Campus, Downey School, Ben Franklin School and Camp Curtin Academy. Pick-up times are staggered to discourage large gatherings, with 10 a.m. open to students in pre-K to 4th grade, 10:30 a.m. for 5th to 8th grades, and 11 a.m. for 9th to 12th grades. Students must be present to receive meals. Find more info here.
In Lancaster, grab-and-go meals are distributed on Tuesdays and Thursdays at five locations in the School District of Lancaster; residents are welcome to go to any location that is most convenient (it does not need to be where your child attends school). The locations are Carter & MacRae Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, Hand Middle School, Reynolds Middle School and JP McCaskey High School. See here for more info as well as maps with exact pick-up locations and traffic patterns.
Throughout the Lehigh Valley, 17 school districts have mobilized to provide food for its students. For example, the Allentown School District is allowing meal pick-up every weekday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Central Elementary, Trexler, Raub, Harrison Morton, and South Mountain middle schools and Allen and Dieruff high schools. In the Northwestern Lehigh School District, any students currently facing food insecurity are able to order meals online or over the phone, with pick-ups at Weisenberg or Northwestern Elementary on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Check out this helpful map of sites in Philadelphia where free meals are being provided. The purple dots, of which there are dozens in all regions of the city, represent places where student meals are available. Most of the sites are open from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Thursdays. The sites are open to any residents of Philadelphia who may pick up one box of food per household.
In Pittsburgh, a collaboration between local community organizations and public schools is coordinating free Grab and Go Meals that are being offered at a number of regional sites across the city, such as recreation centers, schools and churches. The meals, which are available to all students, are distributed between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Friday of each week, with multiple meals available on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Scranton School District is providing free breakfast and lunch to all children under the age of 18. Tuesday is the only pick-up day each week (the pick-up window is between 10 a.m. and noon), but each child is given a week’s worth of meals. Distribution sites: Neil Armstrong Elementary, Scranton High School, South Scranton Intermediate and West Scranton Intermediate.
The State College Area School District is providing meal kits each week for all children under the age of 18. These kits, which include five entrees as well as vegetables, fruit and milk, are offered via pick up on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the State College Area High School parking lot. Orders, which are customizable to meet each family’s needs, must be placed in advance online each week by 8 a.m. on the Monday morning before the Wednesday pick-up. A limited number of meal kits are set aside for walk-ups who did not order ahead.
We hope this information is helpful to you or anyone you know whose child might be in need of meals right now. Please let us know what other resources in your town we should be sharing with the PA Eats community!
- Feature photo: BigStock
