Pittsburgh public college staff proceed to feed hungry college students through the pandemic – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Kids sat in the Pittsburgh Langley cafeteria this summer, enjoying the final days of camp and enjoying lunch with their friends. For some, a sandwich is more than just lunch.

“Sometimes it’s the only meal students actually get during the day or evening,” said Tiffany Fitzpatrick.

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Fitzpatrick worked in the hospitality industry for Pittsburgh Public Schools for eight years. She is part of a team that provides breakfast and more than 19,000 lunches to around 14,000 students.

Of course, a lot has changed in the last school year.

“It was a bit of a challenge sometimes because we didn’t know what to expect,” said Fitzpatrick.

But they had to keep the food going, knowing how important each meal is to the children.

“There were parents who would turn to me and say, ‘I can’t go out of my house to get takeout meals. What can you do to help me? ”Said Curtistine Walker, director of food service at Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Walker says the staff went out of their way to make sure the meals got to the households that needed them.

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“The headmasters helped if it was a student from their respective school. And then there were community groups that said, ‘Hey, we’re delivering for you,’ ”Walker said.

Walker knows this year will also have its challenges as the kids fill the cafeteria again.

“Socially distant. Meals need to be prepared in a certain way. Certain things need to be packed individually, ”said Walker.

In addition to the COVID logs, there is also the persistent problem that affects almost everything now.

“And also deal with a supply chain that wasn’t what it was,” said Walker. “It will be more difficult as the school year progresses, but we are prepared. We have a plan. “

Hundreds of thousands of kids across Pennsylvania don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and that’s why Walker says there is no room for failure in their kitchen.

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“It’s not about ‘will it work?’ We will make it. That is the attitude. We’ll make it work, ”said Walker.

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