With many schools beginning virtual instruction, some students and families are facing the dilemma of how to provide healthy meals for their children this year.
Businesses and local organizations are coming together to help ensure those students are fed.
Giant Eagle pledged $500,000 to regional Feeding America food banks with the goal of supporting K-12 students. Of that sum, $125,000 was committed specifically to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
“The pandemic has challenged every business to make important decisions on how we best support our employees, our customers and our communities. At Giant Eagle, our responsibility to keep our neighbors fed has never been more apparent, and the need to help families in need feed children in a socially distanced or virtual schooling environment is immediate,” Giant Eagle spokesperson Dan Donovan said.
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank launched a covid-19 School Impact grant program. Through the initiative, the Food Bank will award nearly $30,000 in grant funding to 52 local schools.
The Food Bank is also partnering with Family Resources, a local organization that is supporting Allegheny County’s Community Learning Hubs. The hubs offer free Wi-Fi and headphones, along with a staff to help students navigate their virtual classes.
The Food Bank will continue distributing meals to students participating in after school programs and virtual learning who are unable to receive school meals. The Food Bank is providing food to facilities including Family Resources’ Northview Heights Community Learning Hub.
Giant Eagle’s efforts to support K-12 students facing hunger include a register campaign, which was launched in March. The campaign has raised more than $4 million so far. The company plans to continue the program through at least the end of the year.
