Greensburg adding grab-and-go meal site this summer

Greensburg is adding a grab-and-go meal site to their footprint to make sure area kids have access to food this summer.

The site will open in conjunction with the Westmoreland County Food Bank at Kirk S. Nevin Arena at Lynch Field Park on June 21. The program will provide food to those participating in the city’s summer camp program, but it also will be open to any kids in the community, said Lydia Kinkaid, recreation program manager for Greensburg.

“It’s just something I’ve been wanting to do,” Kinkaid said. “I grew up going to different parks and doing the summer meals there so it was always something I was familiar with growing up and I know a lot of people really benefit from it. It definitely helps with our summer camp because then we won’t have to rely on parents to pack meals.”

The site is part of the food bank’s summer food service program that has provided breakfast and lunch to kids across the county for 30 years. According to the food bank’s website, the program typically operates for eight weeks each summer, offering free breakfast and lunch at 20 different sites.

According to Lauren Hill, director of development at the food bank, another grab-and-go meal site in the area is located at the South Greensburg Recreation Center.

“We just want to ensure that children have access to the food they need, especially in the summer when school’s aren’t in session,” said Hill.

According to Feeding America, a national food banking organization, one in seven Pennsylvania children face hunger, or about 383,520 kids.

“Being that it’s grab-and-go we’re hoping that it will encourage participation so folks can just go and pick up meals and safely be able to take those back home or perhaps maybe stay at the park and consume them there,” Hill said. “Regardless, (we) just want to increase participation by making it as easy as possible.”

Kinkaid noted that officials are expecting more kids to participate in grab-and-go meals each week. She added that she’s hopeful the program can continue each summer.

Questions about the program, which runs through Aug. 13, can be directed to Michelle Heller, director of programs at food bank, by calling her at 724-468-8660, extension 25.

“I’m really excited about it and we have the opportunity to get meals out to kids who need them or their families would benefit from them,” Kinkaid said.