Guidance provided ahead of potential SNAP shutdown
Superintendent Don MacFann urges students to take advantage of free meals at school.
McKeesport Area School District has provided some guidance for families who might be losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits amid the federal government shutdown.
In a statement Thursday, Superintendent Don Mac-Fann provided resources for families who may face food insecurity if they do not receive their SNAP benefits.
“Through teamwork and cooperation among the McKeesport Area School District, our families, and our dedicated staff, we will continue to address the needs of our students and ensure that all children receive a high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment,” MacFann stated.
MacFann advised families to call Just Harvest, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, if they have any SNAP or food-related concerns. The organization can be reached by calling 412-431-8960 or visiting its website at https:// justharvest.org.
Families can also call 211 to find available resources in their area or use the “find food” feature on the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Banks website at https:// findfood.pittsburghfoodbank. org/s.
MacFann emphasized that all students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch at school every day. He encourages families to have their children take advantage of the free meals at school.
His statement added that students could find breakfast each morning in the school cafeteria or from designated carts inside Founders’ Hall and McKeesport High School.
The district also provides a dinner option to all students Mondays through Thursdays at the following times and locations:
• McKeesport High School from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
• Founders’ Hall from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
• Twin Rivers and Francis McClure elementary schools from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
Lunch and breakfast menus for schools can be found online at https://www. schoolcafe.com/McKeesportASD.
On Friday, two federal judges ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration has to continue funding SNAP using contingency funds during the government shutdown.
The rulings come after the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments for SNAP today. It was not made clear how quickly beneficiaries would receive funds, a process that sometimes takes one to two weeks.
Earlier in the week, Pennsylvania state Senate Democrats announced legislation that would provide $62 million to Pennsylvania food banks, Meals on Wheels programs and the Pennsylvania Food Bank and Hunger Relief Grant Program to help them if they see a surge in demand.
“Access to food is a basic human need, and no one in Pennsylvania should have to choose between paying their bills and putting meals on the table,” said state Sen. Nick Pisciottano, D-West Mifflin. “This legislation is about stepping up to fill the gap while we push for longer- term federal solutions to support working families, seniors, and vulnerable residents.”
Some Democratic senators, including Pisciottano, state Sens. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, and Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny, announced they are partnering with the Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania to collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations.
Food items can be donated at the following Salvation Army locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday:
• Pittsburgh Temple Worship and Service Center: 1060 McNeilly Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15226
• North Boroughs Worship and Service Center: 327 S. Home Avenue, Pittsburgh.
• Pittsburgh Westside Worship and Service Center: 1821 Broadhead-Fording Road, Pittsburgh.
• Chartiers Valley Service Center: 39 W. Main St., Carnegie.
• Homewood-Brushton Worship and Service Center: 8020 Frankstown Ave., Pittsburgh.
• Steel Valley Worship and Service Center: 104 East Ninth Avenue, Homestead.
• Emergency Disaster Services warehouse: 820 Parish St., Pittsburgh.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
