Wilkinsburg Community Ministry Supports Area Youth Programs

is lending support to local after-school and summer groups with the Youth Partnership Food Program.

“We feed at-risk children and youth through after-school programs at four sites - the Addison Behavioral Afterschool Program, Wilkinsburg Boys and Girls Club, a group called FROGS, which is out of the First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood and also provide lunch for the PLEA program,” said

PLEA is a school for children with developmental behavioral issues, which runs out of South Avenue Methodist Church, where WCM’s kitchen operates, she said.

“We do lunch for them every day,” Greider said. “During the summer, we provide meals for all of the groups for the summer programs. We do the police youth academy in the summer and do Youth Places, an employment program for kids in Wilkinsburg to help find them work, just to help them get something to do during the summer.”

Greider said the work WCM accomplishes through the youth program creates direct support to groups that always seem to need the extra financial help.

“A lot of the after-school groups are really low on funds, so it helps if they can get their food provided because we don’t charge - it’s a free service, so that really helps to keep their programs going because of this service,” she said. “They are important to keep going because it keeps the youth off the streets, especially in the summer. It gives them something to do and it’s important they keep going. Because of the low funding, they’re all really hurting. It’s a big part - kids getting fed - and a lot of them do not get decent meals at home.”

Last year, WCM started serving breakfast at the boys and girls club, which will continue this year. WCM also is looking for new sites for the summer in the immediate area. WCM is reimbursed by the Department of Education and get paid per meal, so it covers the cost of food.

Ron Morrison, assistant executive director of the Wilkinsburg Boys and Girls Club said the youth program especially helps because some students eat lunch at school at 10:30 in the morning, but don’t end up going home until 7:30 p.m.

“The way it helps us is the fact that with the school situation here in Wilkinsburg, the cafeterias aren't very equipped to feed them at the right times,” Morrison said. “We are able to provide them with something in their bellies so it hasn’t been 9 or 10 hours since they have eaten.”

For more information on WCM or to donate and volunteer, contact Greider at anng@wcm15221.org.