This article by Kirstin Kennedy originally appeared in the Beaver County Times. Used with permission.
More than 12,000 meals will be served to children in Beaver Falls this summer despite a few unexpected planning challenges, officials say.
The Beaver County Summer Food Program provides free lunches to anyone under age 18 through the summer at locations across the county. This program helps to ensure children who ordinarily receive lunches during the school year are fed healthy meals.
Mike Rubino, executive director of the United Way of Beaver County, said nine locations in the Beaver Falls area were uncovered for the summer up until about two weeks ago.
The summer lunch program is coordinated through Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Rubino said. Area organizations, including the Beaver County YMCA and Salvation Army, have supported the program by providing lunches to about 46 locations across the county.
Rubino said that for the past few years, the YMCA has covered more than 50 percent of the Beaver County locations. The organization provides the food through the Nutrition Group, the contracted food service for the Rochester Area School District. Additionally, the Aliquippa School District handles all locations within the city, Rubino said.
The Beaver Falls area has been covered by the Salvation Army, which was able to provide food through Sodexo at the Beaver Area School District.
However, the district has not yet renewed its contract with the organization for the upcoming year, and the current contract ends June 30, according to district Business Manager John Hynes. While the district still offered its space to the Salvation Army, Sodexo said it was unable to make an anticipated donation for the cost of some of the food, Rubino said.
The Salvation Army was unable to commit to providing food for the area without the expected donation, he said. Fearing the Beaver Falls area would go unserved, Rubino reached out to the YMCA to see if it could take on the extra meals.
Mike Harich, president and CEO of the Beaver County YMCA, said he agreed to provide the food and hired additional staff to cover the area. However, Harich said the YMCA did not have the transportation to get the food to the sites.
Rubino reached out to Beaver Valley Auto Mall, which, with the help of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, was able to donate a van for the entire summer.
Harich said he anticipates the YMCA will serve between 60,000 and 65,000 meals throughout the 10-week program. “It’s a tremendous need,” he said.
Besides lunch and a snack, the YMCA provides crafts and a Gospel lesson to program participants, Harich said.
The Ambridge Area School District also offers an eight-week lunch program at the senior high school, Janet Gaffney, director of food service, said. The program started last week and offers a free lunch for anyone under age 18 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Gaffney said the program is great for families because they don’t have to make lunch throughout the summer, they can relax in the air conditioning and stay for activities offered for the children. The program also offers lunch to anyone over age 18 for $3.36, Gaffney said.
“Hunger doesn’t take a vacation,” Rubino said. “There’s still a lot of need out there for the kids to eat.”
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The Summer Food Program Rolls on!
Thank You Beaver Valley Auto Mall & Enterprise Rent -A-Car!
