South Hills school districts distribute meals during closure

When Gov. Tom Wolf on March 13 issued a mandate to close Pennsylvania schools for two weeks, school district officials across the region knew that it would impact district students’ ability to get fresh, nutritious breakfasts and lunches.

On March 17, Brentwood Borough School District staff and volunteers prepared more than 100 breakfasts and lunches and set up a free drive-through distribution at the middle school/high school. District superintendent Dr. Amy Burch said that 62 bags were handed out that day.

“The bags included food that met the National School Lunch Program requirements of whole or enriched grain, fruit, vegetable, meat/meat alternative and milk,” Burch said.

Breakfast and lunch meals will continue to be picked up at 3601 Brownsville Road from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“It is our goal to feed all students and children under the age of 18 in our community. We strongly encourage all of our families to come to the middle school/high school to receive a breakfast and lunch bag,” Burch said. “In these uncertain times, we want our Brentwood community to know that they can rely on us to provide two meals a day. We will serve our community until we are directed to do otherwise.”

Over in West Mifflin Area School District, cafeteria staff and paraeducators prepared and distributed grab and go bags of breakfast and lunch foods.

Dr. Mark Hoover, acting superintendent of the district, said that 550 bags were distributed on Monday. On Tuesday, that number nearly doubled to 942.

“People are so appreciative,” he said. “We’re shocked that we’re seeing the numbers that we are – and we expect those numbers to grow even more.”

Meals in West Mifflin are distributed Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at seven locations, including the middle school, high school and the district’s two elementary schools, Clara Barton and Homeville.

“This is hitting everyone pretty hard, and we’re just trying to take care of the kids, the community and anyone in need,” Hoover said.

West Jefferson Hills School District is working with its food service management company to provide meals to any students in need of lunch, regardless of income, according to district director of publications Carrie Lekse. Those meals are being delivered via school buses to Floreffe Fire Hall, West Elizabeth Fire Hall, Marhoefer Drive Apartments, Mowry Park, 885 Fire Department and at the rear of Thomas Jefferson High School.

Distribution occurs Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as long as the district is closed due to the coronavirus, Leske said.

Meals must be reserved by 5 p.m. each day for the following day’s lunch. To place an order, families must email foodservice@wjhsd.net or call 412-655-8610 x6232. They will need to include the student’s name and the distribution location.

Baldwin Whitehall School District will begin distributing free bagged lunches and breakfast items for the following day to students on March 23 and will continue weekdays until further notice, according to Carrie Butler, the district’s communications consultant.

The distribution will take place at Baldwin High School from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on those days. It is grab-and-go – no food can be consumed on-site. Parents will remain in their cars and the students must be present to receive the meals.

Butler advised parents to enter the high school’s central parking lot from North Emblem Drive and make a counter-clockwise loop through the parking lot. She said that the distribution location is near the entrance to the north cafeteria and loading dock.