Highlands student meals changing to weekly distribution

Highlands School District will start distributing student meals weekly beginning next week, with the Highlands Partnership Network continuing to supplement district efforts.

The school district, which had been providing breakfast and lunch daily, will change to a weekly distribution starting Monday and for the remainder of the school closure, the district announced Thursday.

District officials did not respond to a request for comment on why the change is being made.

Highlands schools are now scheduled to be closed through April 13, with students returning to schools on April 14.

The district is maintaining its previously scheduled spring break, April 9-13.

Parents or students can pick up meals between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays only at three locations:

• Highlands High School, door 23 near the student parking lot;

• Highlands Elementary School, door 22, near the cafeteria;

• The Hayden Center at Sheldon Park.

The Highlands Partnership Network has been offering meals at additional locations for those who can’t get to the district’s distribution sites.

On Monday, each student may receive five bagged lunches for the week. They include non-perishable breakfast items.

Parents or students can pick them up between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at one of five locations:

• First Avenue and Bridge Street at The Greg Blythe Friendship Garden, Tarentum;

• West Sixth Avenue playground, West Tarentum;

• Salvation Army, 917 Brackenridge Ave., Brackenridge;

• Natrona Community Park, River Road, Natrona, Harrison;

• Village Green Apartments, 240 Village Green Drive, Natrona Heights, Harrison.

Those in need of food or other services in the area can message the Highlands Partnership Network on its Facebook page or call 211.

Families in Fawn can get lunches delivered by messaging the partnership through Facebook.

Volunteers will practice suggested guidelines during distribution, including maintaining distance between volunteers and recipients, sanitizing tables and changing gloves. Parents or students who are exhibiting signs of illness are asked to stay home.

Shuttle continues

Allegheny Family Network North, a non-profit and member of the Highlands Partnership Network, will continue running a free shuttle on April 1.

The shuttle, in coordination with the W.L. Roenigk bus company, provides transportation to 13 locations in Tarentum and Harrison with stops near Community Market, pharmacies and Walmart. The bus runs between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The shuttle is sanitized after each loop. Riders are asked to leave space between seats and stay home if they are sick.

The shuttle, funded by The Pittsburgh Foundation, is intended to help mothers, the elderly, and other residents without transportation reach medical, education and family centers.

Service updates will be posted on the Allegheny Family Network’s Facebook page.