Pittsburgh Parks & Rec reaches food distribution milestone during pandemic

Many organizations have had to reinvent themselves since the start of the pandemic one year ago and the City of Pittsburgh Department of Parks & Recreation is no exception.

While Citiparks recreation and senior centers have been closed to activities during the pandemic, many have been repurposed as safe sites for food distribution to those in need during the covid crisis.

Now, one year later, Citiparks has distributed more than half a million free meals to eligible children and seniors.

Since March 2020, officials say they have distributed an estimated 423,600 meals to children and approximately 100,000 meals to seniors.

“We could not have done this without the support of a multitude of community partners,” Citiparks director Ross Chapman said.

Since the pandemic began, rates of food insecurity have increased dramatically nationwide and Pittsburgh neighborhoods such as the Hill District and Homewood have been particularly hard hit, according to a study by the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.

Parkhurst Dining, Eat’n Park, and the Salvation are among entities that have helped with Citiparks food efforts.

“I want to thank Mayor Peduto and his administration, my co-workers and colleagues, our partners and the residents of Pittsburgh for allowing us to provide direct and tangible support during this time of need,” Chapman said.