PITTSBURGH, PA (August 11, 2020) The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Pandemic Logistics/ Community Engagement Office will begin distributing fresh produce to Citiparks Healthy Active Living centers tomorrow, to supplement the lunches the City has been supplying to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Citiparks distributes Grab and Go meals to seniors at its HAL centers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Last week — in partnership with Ebenezer Church and Produce to the People — police community engagement officers delivered boxes of produce to the West End and Sheraden senior centers. That proved a success, and starting tomorrow the officers will expand the distribution to all 9 of the centers citywide.
The boxes of produce typically contain apples, onions, and potatoes, and sometimes pears.
Police will be dropping off the produce at the centers by 10 a.m. each Wednesday in advance of the 11 a.m.-1 p.m. food distribution window.
The Community Engagement Office’s mission is to enhance relationships between citizens and law enforcement by addressing community needs, to build strong relationships based on trust, and to partner with neighbors to improve public safety. This produce distribution plan is part of the office’s ongoing effort to help people during the pandemic.
While HAL centers are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic Citiparks has been offering regular free food for seniors and children at its senior and recreation centers since March. Each week up to 2,500 meals are distributed to Pittsburgh seniors. Those seeking to register for the meals may contact the SeniorLine at 1-800-344-4319.
The nine centers offering the meals and produce are:
- Beechview
- Greenfield/Magee
- Glen Hazel
- Hazelwood
- Homewood
- Lawrenceville
- Sheraden
- Southside Markethouse
- West End
More information on the centers is available here.
