Highlands community groups offering additional lunch sites for students

Organizations in Highlands School District communities are working together to offer lunches for students in more locations.

The school district previously announced it would be providing to-go lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays, beginning Wednesday, at the high school in Harrison, elementary school in Tarentum and in Sheldon Park.

Misty Chybrzynski, who recently resigned from the school board, spoke as a resident at a board meeting Monday, raising concern that those in the Natrona area of Harrison without transportation would not be able to get to the district’s locations. She resigned from the board because she moved out of the region which she was elected to represent.

Chybrzynski, a community development specialist with Allegheny Family Network, offered her organization’s help to reach those people. The network operates a shuttle service to serve those without access to public transit.

Allegheny Family Network announced it is working with the Highlands Partnership Network, the school district and the Salvation Army to add four more locations where school lunches can be picked up in the Highlands area.

On Wednesday only, parents or students can pick up school lunches between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at:

• The Friendship Garden, First Avenue and Bridge Street, Tarentum;

• Salvation Army, 917 Brackenridge Ave., Brackenridge;

• Natrona Playground, River Road, Natrona;

• Village Green Apartments, 240 Village Green Drive, Harrison.

The packed lunches are for current Highlands students, pre-kindergarten through seniors. Each student may receive three bags each for the rest of the week. The lunch bags will include non-perishable breakfast items.

Parents or students can pick up bags at those locations until the supply is gone.

Those showing signs of illness are asked to stay home. Those in need of food or other services in the area can message the Highlands Partnership Network on its Facebook page or call 211 for help.

The school district announced it will be offering lunch for parents to pick up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays through the remainder of the school closure at Highlands High School, door 23 nearest the student parking lot; Highlands Elementary School, door 22 near the cafeteria; and the Hayden Center at Sheldon Park.

Information is available on the district’s website.