Free hot meals will continue to be distributed at the Brackenridge Salvation Army this year.
The site on Brackenridge Avenue hosts a community lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays, with baked fish, turkey breast and sloppy Joe’s on the homemade menu.
Up to 100 people are served.
Captain Selah Bender said the outreach not only helps people struggling financially but also goes a long way to get people out and talking with neighbors.
“It’s community-building,” Bender said.
At the same time, people can stop by for an emergency food distribution that goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tables in the gym are brimming with fresh bread, canned veggies, bottled water and pastries, mostly donated by Aldi and Walmart.
“Together, we are combating food insecurity,” Bender said.
The mission will carry on thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Bayer Fund, the pharmaceutical company’s philanthropic arm. The money supports the “Feed It Forward” campaign at the Brackenridge and New Kensington Salvation Armies.
The goal is to provide access to fresh, nutritious food for people in need.
In New Kensington, the grant will pay for a weekly market and interactive cooking demonstrations, both of which align with Bayer Fund’s mission of “Health for all, Hunger for none.”
Since 2017, the Bayer Fund has awarded more than $95 million to nonprofits across the country.
Michael Parrish, president, said the Bayer Fund’s donations are expected to make sustainable impacts in each community.
“Programs like The Salvation Army’s Feed It Forward help combat the critical issue of food insecurity and we’re honored to play a role with helping even more people in our community have access to healthy, nutritious food,” Parrish said.
Bender said part of the grant will be used to “provide love in a backpack” every week to the Highlands School District.
Bags are stuffed with grab-and-go, shelf-stable food and doled out to students who might lack access to enough food on weekends.
“This is a vital source for the direct food services we provide,” she said.
