Leechburg Area School District to continue free summer lunch program through December

Free to-go meals are being offered to area youths by the Leechburg Area School District.

The meal program is funded by the federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and has been extended because of the covid-19 pandemic.

The program is scheduled to continue through Dec. 31 unless federal guidelines change, district food service Director Jaclyn Walker said.

The district is operating under a virtual learning phase, and all children 18 or younger residing in the district are eligible.

“Children do not need to be present during meal pickup, and they don’t have to be enrolled in the district,” Walker said.

Register weekly online

Participants are asked to register for meals weekly using the carryout meal order form on the district’s website.

Meal orders are accepted online from 2 p.m. Thursday to 9 a.m. Monday.

Meal distribution in the borough is every Monday and Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. in front of the school cafeteria.

Walk-ups and curbside vehicle pickup is permitted. Walk-ups are reminded to practice social distancing.

Walker and her team of about 10 from the food service team deliver the meals to cars each week.

Other pickup sites added

Aiming to make food pickup easier for residents living outside of the borough, Walker said two off-campus meal distribution sites in West Leechburg and Gilpin were recently added:

• West Leechburg Fireman’s Recreation Hall: 11:45 a.m.- noon Mondays and Wednesdays;

• Gilpin Township Volunteer Fire Hall: 12:15 p.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Monday’s meal distribution includes two breakfast and lunch meals and three of both on Wednesdays.

Hot and cold meals are available.

“The macaroni and cheese is the favorite meal,” lead cook Vicki Queck said.

Some select meals that are prepackaged and come with at-home cooking instructions.

Walker said they’re distributing about 200 meals weekly, with families receiving enough meals for the week if they participate both pickup days.

The district had a 46% free or reduced lunch participation rate for the 2019-20 academic year.

“These are some trying times for families,” Walker said. “We are happy to continue to provide these meals and try and take a little bit of stress off of these families.”

Leechburg Area Superintendent Tiffany Nix said the program has been well received.

“I’m very grateful that we have been permitted by the state to continue a free breakfast and lunch program to every child 18 and under. Especially in strained financial times like our nation is experiencing,” Nix said. “It’s important to offer programs like this in our community.”

District families with questions or concerns are asked to contact Jaclyn Walker at 724-842-0501, ext. 129 or email jwalker@leechburg.k12.pa.us.