Operation Lunch Pail Pals
CRANBERRY TWP — One hundred insulated blue-gray lunch bags lined tables outside of the township's Public Safety Training Center Thursday afternoon.
Filled with school and safety supplies and fire presentation information, members of the Cranberry Township Community Response Team handed them out to local students.
The event was called Operation Lunch Pail Pals.“It's indicative of the caring community we live in,” said Jerry Andree, township manager. “No matter how big Cranberry gets.”The response team wanted to pitch in to help families getting ready for school. Using funds donated to the group to purchase school supplies seemed like a good way to help families prepare for that first day back in class.“People are still in these uncertain times,” said Scott Garing, chief of fire and emergency services. “It can be rather expensive.”Thursday's event is one of many ways the community response team has helped residents this summer through the pandemic.The team developed specifically as a response to COVID-19, according to Garing. About 100 people came together from the township's fire, police and fire and emergency services departments.
“It was just a group of people who wanted to help,” Garing said. “The team is still fielding requests.”Team members identified going back to school as an area of need for some township families.When planning the lunch box campaign, township officials hoped to give children something to look forward to.“To make them happy and proud to go back to school,” Garing said.
Seneca Valley students Victoria Hahn and Abby Kress were among the students who drove up to the training center and retrieved a lunch box.Victoria and Abby were working on spins for color guard in the community park when someone told them about the lunch box event. Both girls decided to stop by.For them, this year's first day of school won't be as exciting as others.“It's a little scary,” said Victoria, a senior.Victoria explained that she wanted to attend classes virtually. But as a future nurse, some of her core classes — such as anatomy and chemistry — are only available in person.As a junior, Abby knows the weight that the right classes carry. This year is a big one when it comes to planning her future.“It's one of my most important years,” Abby said.Any leftover lunch bags will be available for local families. Garing said those interested should contact the response team using the information listed on the township's website.The response team continues to provide assistance for township residents during the pandemic.
