Updated: Summer Food Programs Offer Free Meals to Children
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and City of Pittsburgh Department of Parks and Recreation (CitiParks) are offering summer food programs to provide meals to children at no cost to them or their families while school is not in session.
(This article was updated on June 20, 2023 to reflect the addition of GrubUp!, CitiParks’ 2023 Summer Food Service Program).
UDSA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
What is SFSP?
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally-funded, state-administered program.
The USDA works closely with states to ensure that children who receive on free or reduced-price school meals can get the nutrition they need when schools are closed – whether during summer break or unexpected closures during the school year. Through the USDA's summer meal programs, approved sites in low-income communities across the country can serve healthy meals and snacks to kids up to age 18 at no cost.
Meals can be eaten in-person at local sites or on-the-go.
How can children participate?
Find a summer site in your community with the USDA Summer Meal Site Finder mapping tool. Then, simply bring your child to the site nearest to you during meal times (which can be found via the USDA Summer Meal Site Finder).
Parents can also text “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744 or call 1-866-348-6479 to find participating sites. Pittsburgh meal sites for summer 2023 currently include:
Calvary United Methodist Church
Location: 971 Beech Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
Free Meals Available: June 26 - 29
Hours: Monday - Thursday | 6 - 6:30 p.m.
Warren United Methodist Church
Location: 2606 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Free Meals Available: June 21 - August 10
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday | 12 - 1 p.m.
The Bridge at Northview Heights
Location: 1500 Chicago Street, Pittsburgh 15214, PA 15214
Free Meals Available: June 26 - August 4
Hours: Monday - Friday | 8:45 - 9:30 a.m. and 12 - 12:30 p.m.
Sheridan United Methodist Church
Location: 2948 Chartiers Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15204
Free Meals Available: June 20 - August 10
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday | 12 - 1 p.m.
Trinity AME Zion Church
Location: 3105 Allendale Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15204
Free Meals Available: June 21 - August 11
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday | 12 - 1 p.m.
Sto-Rox Library
Location: 420 Chartiers Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Free Meals Available: June 5 - August 10
Hours: Monday - Thursday | 1 - 2 p.m. and 4 - 6 p.m.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Summer Youth Café
What is the Summer Youth Café?
The Summer Youth Café is is a federally-funded child nutrition program that provides healthy meals during the summer.
How can children participate?
Families can search for participating sites with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Find Food Resources mapping tool and bring their child to any participating site during meal times.
Summer Youth Café sites for summer 2023 currently include:
LaRosa Youth Club
Location: 901 Ravine Street, McKeesport, PA 15132
Hours: Daily | 3 - 5 p.m.
Safe Passage Mckeesport
Location: 1406 Cornell Street, McKeesport, PA 15132
Hours: Daily | 3:45 - 4:30 p.m.
Northern Area Boys & Girls Club
Location: 100 Howard Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15209
Hours: Monday - Friday | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
The Learning Hub at the Bridge
Location: 1500 Chicago Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15214
Hours: Daily | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Valley View Terrace
Location: 518 Dawson Street, Canonsburg, PA 15317
Free Meals Available: June 12 - August 4
Hours: Monday - Friday | 12 - 12:30 p.m.
Bentleyville Apartments
Location: 507 Old West Road, Bentleyville, PA 15314
Free Meals Available: June 12 - August 4
Hours: Monday - Friday | 12 - 12:30 p.m.
Additionally, the food bank is partnering with Moniteau, Knoch, and Karns City School Districts to host monthly summer drive-up food distributions. Anyone living within participating school district areas is encouraged to attend. For more information, please view the event flyer.
GrubUp!: CitiParks’ Summer Food Service Program 2023
What is GrubUp!?
GrubUp! is CitiParks Summer Food Service Program. It provides healthy and delicious meals (breakfast, lunch, and/or snack) through eight of Pittsburgh’s recreation centers and 30+ partner locations.
This program will run from June 21 through August 18, and be free to anyone under the age of 18 or residents with intellectual disabilities up to age 21.
CitiParks also partners with the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Food Service Division to provide the Mobile Food Truck, which will operate in conjunction with our Roving Art Cart every Friday to provide an additional location for Pittsburgh children to receive this valuable service.
This service is made possible by funding from the US Department of Agriculture through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
How can children participate?
To participate, parents and caregivers simply bring their child or children to any of CitiPark’s participating recreation centers or partner locations when meal services are offered. CitiParks offers meals:
Ammon Recreation Center
Location: 2217 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Hours: Monday – Friday, | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Brookline Recreation Center
Location: 1400 Oakridge Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15226
Hours: Monday – Friday, | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Jefferson Recreation Center
Location: 605 Rednap Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Hours: Monday – Friday, | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Magee Recreation Center
Location: 745 Greenfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15207
Hours: Monday – Friday, | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Ormsby Recreation Center
Location: 79 S. 22nd Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Hours: Monday – Friday, | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Paulson Recreation Center
Location: 1201 Paulson Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Hours: Monday – Friday, | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Phillips Recreation Center
Location: 201 Parkfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
Hours: Monday – Friday, | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Warrington Recreation Center
Location: 329 E. Warrington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
Hours: Monday – Friday, | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
To find meal service details, and Summer 2023 partner locations and food service times, view the complete GrupUp! site list.
For additional information please contact CitiParks Food Programs Office at 412.571.3291
Learn More
To learn more, visit the USDA or Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank summer food program webpages.