UPDATE (August 30, 2020): With Pittsburgh Public Schools delaying their start until September 8, Citiparks will be issuing food to children at Rec Centers around the city. Further details are available here.
PITTSBURGH, PA (August 28, 2020) Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and through the summer the City of Pittsburgh Department of Parks and Recreation has served nearly 150,000 Grab & Go meals to children and seniors.
With the school beginning on Monday for Pittsburgh Public Schools students meal distributions will still be available but will change slightly. Meals for seniors will not change.
Total to date Grab & Go meals served to children were 98,951, with 58,913 via Rec Centers and Salvation Army sites, and 40,038 through summer food partner sites.
Meals for seniors totaled 48,126, which includes all of the meals provided by the Area Agency on Aging and some, but not nearly all of the meals that have been additionally donated.
More recent meal donations including fresh produce made available via Pittsburgh Police are being delivered to all City senior center locations on Wednesday and Fridays each week. Hot meals are also being distributed one day per week at the Markethouse and Sheraden locations.
Altogether that is a total of 147,077 free meals served by Citiparks employees during the pandemic.
“Our Citiparks employees are on the front lines just like so many City workers helping Pittsburghers in need. I’m very proud of them and thankful to all the partners who have pitched in to help the past five months,” Mayor William Peduto said.
Citiparks gathered testimonials from some of those helped during the pandemic.
“Thank you so much for making sure no kid went without food or activities during this virus time. My name is Mrs. Terry and I love helping the kids in hopes that one day they will be come respectful and helpful adults. Again thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
“The Citiparks lunches were great. My children loved them. They helped out tremendously. . . They really loved the mac & cheese, corn dogs, and cheeseburgers,” Ms. McClintock said.
“We all appreciate what has been given to us because I have three grandchildren and I’m on disability and the food I get helps them so, so much! We thank you Kyra and Erin for all you do for our family.”
With the school beginning on Monday, August 31, for Pittsburgh Public Schools students meal distributions will still be available but will change slightly.
On Monday Citiparks will be moving to the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) meals for children, as the SFSP (Summer Food Service Program) will end after today. Senior meal distribution will not change.
Citiparks will serve meals three days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Monday and Wednesday will include meals for Tuesday and Thursday (with the exception of this coming Monday).
Under state rules Friday cannot include meals for Saturday as it is not a school instructional day.
Meals will include dinner and a snack. Parents/guardians can pickup meals without a child present, but have to sign for the child (as do children if picking up for more than one child).
There will be NO meal service on Monday, September 7, due to the Labor Day Holiday
Food distribution sites are:
AMMON REC CENTER 2217 Bedford Avenue 3-4:30 p.m.
ARLINGTON REC CENTER 2201 Salisbury Street 3-4:30 p.m.
BROOKLINE REC CENTER 1400 Oakridge Street 3-4:30 p.m.
JEFFERSON REC CENTER 605 Redknap Street 3-4:30 p.m.
MAGEE REC CENTER 745 Greenfield Avenue 3-4:30 p.m.
PAULSON REC CENTER 1201 Paulson Avenue 3-4:30 p.m.
PHILLIPS REC CENTER 201 Parkfield Street 3-4:30 p.m.
WARRINGTON REC CENTER 329 Warrington Avenue 3-4:30 p.m. A
CH CLEAR PATHWAYS 510 Heldman Street 5-6 p.m.
ALLEGHENY DWELLINGS 171 Belleau Drive (Rear) 2:30-4:00 p.m.
NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS 441 Mt. Pleasant Road 2:30-4:30 p.m.
PROJECT DESTINY 1 3737 Brighton Road 2:30-4:30 p.m.
PROJECT DESTINY 2 2200 California Avenue 2:30-4:30 p.m.
SALVATION ARMY-HOMEWOOD 8020 Frankstown Avenue 2:30-4:30 p.m.
SALVATION ARMY-WESTSIDE 1821 Broadhead Fording Road 2:30-4:30 p.m.
(Recreation Center photos from top: Jefferson; Beechview; Ammon; Warrington. Credit: Citiparks)
