Western Pa. groups ramp up summer programs to address growing food insecurity

One in six kids in the Pittsburgh region lives with food insecurity. In 2021, it was one in eight.

Kelsey Gross, director of child nutrition programs at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, says the jump in need will be met with access to free food this summer.

“We know many families are struggling to make ends meet this summer with higher costs at the grocery store, increasing utility bills and higher housing costs,” Gross said. “We want to make sure all families know these sites offer meals to any child, no strings attached.”

Feeding America tracks the level of food insecurity and federally funded nutrition programs such as Summer Youth Cafe that work to provide direct access where it is most needed.

“We hope that families have a site in the neighborhood,” Gross said. “If not, we would like to hear from them so that we can work to establish those sites in their neighborhoods next summer.”

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank provides service to an 11-county area that covers the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, excluding only Westmoreland County, which has its own food bank providing similar programs.

Any child 18 or younger can get food at no cost by visiting a Summer Youth Cafe site. The cafes are offered at a variety of locations, including local parks, churches, schools, libraries and other gathering spaces.

“There’s definitely been an increase of students coming to our programs,” Gross said.

Summer food sites will look different depending on whether the location offers breakfast, lunch, snacks or grab-and-go meals.

Westmoreland County Food Bank has offered summer food programs for more than 40 years.

Participation in the program remains high, according to Michelle Heller, director of programs for the Westmoreland food bank.

“When we did this with covid, it was close to 800 kids a day, so even now I am betting it will continue to be close to that,” Heller said.

The food bank will run in 10 locations through Aug. 9, mostly between 10 a.m. and noon Mondays through Thursdays. Most locations offer grab-and-go stations with options for cold or microwavable frozen meals. Breakfast is also included at some locations.

Murrysville Christian Concerns Friends Thrift Shop in Export has been a host site for four years and will offer frozen meals for the first time this year.

Dan Plance, manager of the thrift store, said he is encouraged by what the new option brings.

“We are doing a frozen lunch this year that is nicer. It’s only Day 2, but it seems to be going even better,” Plance said shortly after the program started.

Nearly two dozen children receive meals at Murrysville Christian, and officials hope that number will climb to more than 30 by the end of the summer.

Dave Rankin, executive director of nonprofit Faith Communities Partners, helps bring food to sites in Westmoreland.

“Programs like this help keep kids engaged over the summer,” Rankin said.” It’s nice to be a part of programs like this where kids come together to a safe place all summer long. These programs help keep kids’ minds active during the summer.

“Our role is to make sure that the kids don’t go away hungry,” Rankin said.

Bill Godfrey is president of Natrona Comes Together Association, which sponsors a summer cafe at Natrona Riverfront Park in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood.

“This is an economically depressed area. The food is very important for the kids,” he said.

Godfrey said the need hasn’t shown any signs of easing.

“It’s very gratifying: We’ve been doing this 19 years, and now we’re having mothers who were in the program bring their kids. We have put thousands of community service hours into this community.”

Natrona Comes Together Association has partnered with the Pittsburgh Zoo, Carnegie Science Center and Phipps Conservatory to provide free meals and help young students continue to keep thinking throughout the summer months.

Andrew Wright, 14, volunteers in the summer at Riverfront Park.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “Getting back up here for the summer like I have been doing the past couple years and helping out the community, doing what’s right and being here with the family and friends.”

Wright said his favorite part about this year is being served food in the pavilion.

“It feels good that we are being served this year in the pavilion instead of outside on the benches,” he said.

Rachael Mckrell said the program offers convenient access.

“It helps a lot, especially with my son who is 8 and is in school. He automatically gets the free breakfast and lunch,” she said. “It helps with my 2-year-old also, so that we can enjoy the park and the free lunches.”

Mckrell enjoys taking her kids to these programs because more than free summer lunches is provided.

“Arts and crafts, they make tie-dye shirts, they do so much when all they have is the park here,” she said. “It’s really nice for them to have activities during the day along with the free lunches.”

Volunteer Clarissa Ankney, a native of Natrona Heights, helps distribute meals to kids at Riverfront Park.

“It’s an honor,” Ankney said. “My brother and I grew up here and went to the events, and we thought it was such a great experience, and being a part of it feels incredible.”

Ankney was once in the kids’ shoes, going to the summer youth cafes with her brother. Now she is able to pay it forward, she said.

“It really helps and makes me feel like I’m contributing to my community since I was born and raised here,” Ankney said. “It makes me feel like I am playing a part in helping the community grow in friendships, families and getting to know people around the neighborhood.”