Local schools and organizations recognized for their work to combat child hunger

School districts and community organizations in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties were recognized for their efforts to ensure children have enough to eat.

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank presents the Child Hunger Hero award to nine counties and community sponsors in the region. They were evaluated for their participation in programs such as school meals, summer meals, after-school meals, weekend sacks, and school pantry programs.

“The Child Hunger Hero Award program is our opportunity to thank food service professionals for their work to feed children,” said Kelsey Gross, Food Bank director of child nutrition programs. “We know how much work goes into preparing healthy meals for children, and we thank our partners for ensuring children get the nutritious food they need to thrive.”

The Child Hunger Hero Award levels are Gold, Silver and Bronze and are determined by a point system based on how significantly a partner contributes to a detailed list of the program’s child food security standards.

Gold winners in the region include LeMoyne Community Center in Washington, East End United Community Center in Uniontown and Trinity Area School District. LeMoyne and East End United community centers were also gold winners in February.

Silver awards went to the Avella Area, Ringgold and Connellsville Area school districts.

Bronze award winners in the region include the California Area, Southmoreland and Southeastern Greene school districts.

“It is very important to us to make sure the children in the community have something to eat,” said Paige Mahoney, assistant director of the East End United Community Center. “The recognition for this makes us feel much better. The children are also excited when we share it with them. They like receiving awards.”

The center has a number of programs focused on serving children and families. These include an on-site after-school program aimed at children in grades 1 to 5; the One School, One Voice program for middle school students; an on-site daycare center; a monthly food bank and a community garden.

“It’s really grown over the last three years,” Mahoney said of the community garden. “It’s open to all members of the community, but we have a master gardener from Penn State Fayette who teaches the kids how to grow and how to harvest. We also bring in the harvest and show them what foods they can prepare with it. We live in a food desert, so it was really a challenge to create this garden and give them a walkable place to pick up fresh vegetables. We just want to serve the community as best we can.”

Trish Robinson, program director at LeMoyne Community Center, said the organization was “humbled” by the recognition.

“I looked at the list of different high schools and organizations and it is a blessing to be among the other winners,” she said. “I think this shows that the young people in this area are getting something to eat. That’s the primary goal.”

LeMoyne Community Center continues to offer programs such as Summer Camp, Summer Feed, Homework and More and the new Community Mobile Feed program.

“It was a huge success,” Robinson said of the new program. “Children who cannot take part in our program are fed. Every Tuesday we visit a different location in Washington and distribute the bounty of what we receive from our monthly food bank and our local donors. As soon as we get it, we give it back to the community.”

Stops have already been made at Jollick Manor, Maple Terrace and Valley View Terrace in Canonsburg.

Programs to meet children’s food needs are a focus in the Trinity Area School District.

“It’s incredible,” Kellie Smith, food service director, said of the honor. “We have put a lot of work into making sure the children are fed in different ways.”

These include the district’s nutrition program, breakfast program, after-school meal, summer meal, pantry and meal helpers, where students receive a grab-and-go snack.

“All of these programs are just to make sure kids have food,” Smith said.

A total of 43 school districts and organizations in 11 counties received the award.