United Way is expanding its food distribution efforts for the summer.

In a Tuesday announcement, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania said it would establish 33 distribution sites to provide more than 44,000 meals to students in the coming months across the region, including Butler County.

The food will be distributed to children in communities that are at the highest risk of continued food insecurity in part because of the coronavirus.

The organization noted that between March 16 and April 30, United Way’s 24/7 2-1-1 helpline received nearly 2,300 contacts for food assistance, a quadrupled increase compared to the same time last year.

“The pandemic has deeply impacted thousands of children in our area and millions around the country,” said Bobbi Watt Geer, president and CEO of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, in a prepared statement.

The program, according to the announcement, is made possible by the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, including the Rooney family, Lebda family and ownership, coaches and players from the Steelers who made donations to United Way during the NFL’s Draft-A-Thon in April.