Centre County meal programs for kids are up and running. Here’s where you can find them
While Pennsylvania K-12 schools remain closed until the end of the month as officials monitor the coronavirus, the YMCA is making sure Centre County kids are fed.
After store shelves were left bare across the region, Moshannon Valley YMCA Executive Director Mel Curtis wasn’t sure the YMCA could get through a week of maintaining its weekly Backpack Program and also start its summer lunch program early.
But with help from community members and local businesses, both programs will continue, kicking off with lunch at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
“One of the greatest things the Y can provide to a community is child care and feeding kids, and we will do whatever it takes,” Curtis said.
The YMCA will operate drop and go lunch sites at the Bellefonte YMCA — 110 W. High St. — the Moshannon Valley YMCA — 113 N. 14th St. — and the State College YMCA — 677 W. Whitehall Road — from noon to 1 p.m. each day school is out of session. The meals will include a lunch and evening snack.
“We are now geared up ... we will be out every day of the week feeding kids while they’re out of school,” Curtis said. “We have a task force put together which has grown phenomenally. We have volunteers coming from all over the county to serve kids every day.”
Curtis said the YMCA is working with local fire and emergency response services to secure additional sites, but each location must be approved by the Department of Agriculture. Site locations will be updated on the Moshannon Valley YMCA Facebook page. Area school districts have donated excess milk and goods that would have been served during breakfast and lunch; however, Curtis said, those items will only last so long.
“It’s not a battle. It’s a war,” Curtis said. “And I don’t think it’s going to be over in two weeks.”
Emergency food items, including ramen noodles, canned foods, granola bars, bottled water, fruit and small loaves of bread, may be dropped off at any YMCA location during business hours.
The YMCA has also filed a waiver with the state Department of Human Services that would permit child care for the kids of essential workers, but it has not yet heard back.
In addition to the State College Area School District meal program, the Penns Valley Area School District will be providing breakfast and lunch to all students on weekdays during the closure. To register, parents and guardians are asked to visit pennsvalley.org. Meal deliveries will begin the following day if kids are registered by 7 p.m.
Meal distribution will occur between 9:30-9:45 a.m. at Centre Hall Potter Elementary, Penns Valley Area High School and Miles Township Elementary.
As students are added to the program, locations and times may vary, but if the district receives a significant number of responses, it will consider door-to-door delivery.
If a household does not have access to internet, Penns Valley asks parents to contact 422-2000, ext. 3097.
Meals are also available for State College Area School District families while schools are closed. A breakfast and lunch will be provided every day on a first come, first served basis. Children must be present in order for meals to be provided at the following drive-thru locations:
- State College Area High School bus loop from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Weis Markets parking lot on North Atherton Street from 11 a.m.-noon
- Ashworth Woods Apartments in Boalsburg from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 8:06 AM.
