Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is pleased to announce the winners of our third annual Child Hunger Hero Award! The Child Hunger Hero award program recognizes school districts and community partners who go above and beyond to battle child food insecurity within our 11-county service area.
Each year, local schools and community sponsors are evaluated on their programs to combat food insecurity among children. These programs include school meals, summer food programs, afterschool meals, weekend backpacks and school pantry programs that were in place during summer 2023 and school year 2022-2023. This year, 30 school districts and 11 community sponsors applied for the Child Hunger Hero Award. We are thrilled to present this award to 11 gold, 14 silver and 16 bronze winners.
Winners will have awards presented by representatives of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s Child Nutrition Outreach Team. Award items include Apple Awards, certificates, pins, t-shirts, hats, pens, and tote bags. This is a small token of our appreciation for the hard work food service workers put in each day.
Feeding children is a year-round job for many of our Child Hunger Hero award winners. These heroes put their capes aside for aprons and often go unrecognized for the terrific work they do. They go above and beyond to ensure that children begin and end their school days with full bellies. Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank prioritizes reducing childhood hunger. We know that kids need adequate nutrition to learn and grow. Research shows starting the school day by eating breakfast can lead to higher test scores, calmer classrooms, fewer trips to the nurse and better attendance. Outside of school-time, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, backpack programs, and school pantries are there to fill the gaps. Child Hunger Hero award winners give themselves so that children can reach for the stars and succeed, not just now, but in the future.
As our good friend Mister Rogers once said, “anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” Thank you and congratulations to our local heroes!
Gold Award
School Districts
Gateway School District, Allegheny County
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Allegheny County
Greater Johnstown School District, Cambria County
New Castle School District, Lawrence County
Trinity Area School District, Washington County
Community Sponsors
Beaver County YMCA, Beaver County
Cambria County Child Development Corporation, Cambria County
East End United Community Center, Fayette County
YMCA of Indiana County, Indiana County
Lawrence County Community Action Partnership, Lawrence County
The LeMoyne Community Center, Washington County
Silver Award
School Districts
Deer Lankes School District, Allegheny County
Armstrong School District, Armstrong County
Kiski Area School District, Armstrong County
New Brighton Area School District, Beaver County
Rochester Area School District, Beaver County
Conemaugh Valley School District, Cambria County
Forest Hills School District, Cambria County
Carmichaels Area School District, Greene County
Penns Manor Area School District, Indiana County
California Area School District, Washington County
Community Sponsors
North Hills Cares, Allegheny County
United Methodist Church Union, Allegheny County
Flood City Youth Fitness Academy, Cambria County
Camp Harmony, Somerset County
Bronze Award
School Districts
Avonworth School District, Allegheny County
Plum Borough School District, Allegheny County
Woodland Hills School District, Allegheny County
Yeshiva Achei Tmimim, Allegheny County
Freeport Area School District, Armstrong County
Ambridge Area School District, Beaver County
Ferndale Area School District, Cambria County
Southmoreland School District, Fayette County
Southeastern Green school District, Green County
Marion Center Area School District, Indiana County
Laurel School District, Lawrence County
Shade-Central City School District, Somerset County
Avella Area School District, Washington County
Fort Cherry School District, Washington County
Ringgold School District, Washington County
Community Sponsors
Movement Collective, Somerset County
