food policy
James Dreher, a 25-year-old student from Carrick, pours marinara sauce into separate containers at Community Kitchen Pittsburgh on Feb. 13, 2018. (Photo by John Hamilton/PublicSource)

‘Doing food different’ connects elementary students with a Pittsburgh program training people with barriers to employment

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The Community Kitchen caters, cooks for people experiencing homelessness and has contracts to provide food to five Pittsburgh-area schools. The tension between training its cooks and providing high-quality meals can create challenges, especially as the organization grows. But the Community Kitchen’s success doesn’t only depend on its ability to deliver lunches on time. The food is healthier than typical school lunches, and it has to find schools that can get kids to eat it.

food policy
Cafeteria worker Linda Buck prepares to check out students eating breakfast at North Hills Middle School in Ross Township. (Photo by Katie Blackley/90.5 WESA)

From ‘Grab and Go’ to ‘Second Chance,’ school districts are getting creative with their breakfast options

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Compared to the rest of the United States, Pennsylvania’s school breakfast participation is low. A recent Food Research and Action Center report ranked the state 41st in the country for accessing free and reduced-price breakfast. But with grants and creativity, districts in the region can eventually reach their breakfast goals, says Chris West, Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator.