With Pennsylvania students now remaining out of school until at least April 9, local districts are continuing to provide to-go meals to children. Several changes are coming to the distribution of those meals.
In Crawford Central School District, several more opportunities for meal pick-up are being added beginning today, according to Assistant Business Manager Phyllis Lord.
“We’re getting ready to do a mobile delivery tomorrow,” Lord said on Tuesday.
In addition to pick-up locations at Meadville Area Senior High and Cochranton, Second District and West End elementary schools, district officials will add another pick-up location and will make 20-minute stops at four other locations between 11 a.m and 1 p.m. Beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing until supplies run out, meals will be distributed at Bethany United Methodist Church, 140 Wadsworth Ave.
Other locations include:
• 11 to 11:20 a.m.: William Gill Commons, 111 Walker Drive
• 11:30 to 11:50: First District Elementary School parking lot, 725 N. Main St.
• Noon to 12:20 p.m.: East End Elementary School, Lafayette Street parking lot
• 12:30 to 12:50: Forest Green Apartments, Forest Green Drive
Lord said participation in the free meals program quadrupled over the course of the first week.
“It seems to be continually increasing,” Lord said. “I think people just needed to know it was going to be safe.”
Lord said a special guest will participate today in hopes of drawing additional participants to the first mobile distribution effort: Molly the Cow. Given the COVID-19 pandemic that led to the meals program in the first place, Molly will maintain social distancing and will even wear a surgical-style mask and gloves.
“We’re hoping to get some fun out of it,” Lord said.
PENNCREST School District
Meal distribution continues at Cambridge Springs, Maplewood and Saegertown junior-senior high schools from 4 to 6 p.m. today and Friday.
Beginning on Monday, PENNCREST will distribute six meals per child on Mondays and four meals per child on Wednesdays with all meals distributed at Cambridge Springs Junior-Senior High. Meal distribution will continue “until staffing becomes inadequate or food availability is compromised,” according to a letter to district families. Distribution will begin at 4 p.m. and continue as long as supplies last.
Conneaut School District
The meal distribution program has proved immensely popular, according to Superintendent Jarrin Sperry, with thousands of meals provided already.
“Monday, we bagged 1,100 bags, I think,” Sperry said. “That’s over 4,400 meals” with breakfast and lunch for two days in each bag.
Conneaut continues to distribute meals from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Conneaut Area Senior High, Conneaut Lake Middle School, Conneaut Valley Middle School, Hickernell United Methodist Church and Geneva United Methodist Church.
Mike Crowley can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at [email protected].
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