Summer meals serve up more than food
For many children, summer means more than just a break from studies and a chance for fun outdoors. It can also mean facing food insecurity.
For many children, the only consistent source of nutritious meals during the week are those they are served at school.
Fortunately, there are organizations that faithfully step up to fill in the gap year after year.
Recently, two such organizations have announced their intent to bring back annual summer food programs for another year. Both Breakthrough Butler and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank have provided schedules for summer meals programs for kids.
These organizations deserve credit for helping children spend their summer doing what children should do — enjoying it; rather than worrying about where their next meal might come from.
Breakthrough Butler’s Free Summer Meals Program will be available at Father Marinaro Park from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays and from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays; at Memorial Park from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Fridays; at Christie Avenue Playground from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays; at Rotary Park from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays and from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays; at Institute Hill Playground from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays and from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Fridays; and at East Butler Sports Complex from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays.
The food bank will host its Summer Youth Café at Marion Township Park and Eau Claire Borough Park from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays; and at Emily Brittain Elementary School on Tuesdays and Center Avenue Community School on Thursdays. Pick up times and start dates for these two locations are yet to be determined.
Both programs are open to children 18 and younger.
Caring for the children of our community should be a top priority. We salute these organizations for making the summer feeding program is there to serve.
— JP
