LANSDALE — Share Food Program and PA Health and Wellness recently announced a new partnership to address childhood hunger during school breaks in the Norristown Area School District, supported by a $150,000 investment from PA Health & Wellness.
The funding will support Share Food Program’s new School Break Meals Initiative, a pilot program designed to provide nutritious food to families during periods when children may lose access to school meals. The initiative builds upon the organizations’ existing partnership, which included a $65,000 investment from PA Health & Wellness to support summer meal programming within the school district.
Through the School Break Meals Initiative, Share Food Program will provide food assistance during key periods throughout the Norristown Area School District’s school year. Two distribution events will be held in both the winter holiday and spring breaks when schools are not in session to help families bridge the extended school closure period.
The pilot program will distribute approximately 6,000 meal boxes throughout the school year, with 1,500 boxes available at each distribution event. Boxes will include breakfast and lunch items. Distributions are expected to utilize a drive-through format, allowing families to receive food efficiently and safely while remaining in their vehicles.
“Hunger doesn’t take a break when school is out. School meals are a critical source of nutrition for kids, and families face added pressure whenever those meals are off the table—especially with high grocery costs right now,” said George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program.
“With PA Health & Wellness’ generous investment, we’re expanding a partnership that began with summer meals in Norristown and creating a new model to support families during school breaks. Working with local schools to feed students and their families is central to Share Food Program’s mission, and we’re proud to ensure all kids can have reliable access to healthy food.”
“PA Health & Wellness is proud to build upon our existing partnership with SHARE, where together we distributed over 6,000 meals this past summer,” said Marc Giordano, plan president and CEO of PA Health & Wellness. “For many children across Pennsylvania, the most consistent meal they receive is at school. This program ensures families have access to nutritious food when school is not in session, supporting healthier children and stronger communities.”
“Partnerships like this showcase the incredible impact of community-focused collaboration. By working with Share Food Program, along with the generous support of PA Health & Wellness, we can ensure thousands of meal boxes reach our families when our schools are closed. This initiative directly strengthens our entire district community,” said Nicole Melia, director of food services in the Norristown Area School District.
The School Break Meals Initiative reflects both organizations’ commitment to improving food security, supporting healthy communities, and ensuring children have the nutrition they need to thrive year-round.
Share Food Program is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing hunger and advancing food security throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond. Through partnerships, food distribution programs, and public policy advocacy, Share works to provide immediate access to nutritious food while addressing the systemic barriers that contribute to hunger and poverty. Share believes food is a human right and is committed to building healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities where everyone can thrive. Visit www.sharefoodprogram.org, or follow us on Facebook @sharefood and X and Instagram @sharefoodphilly.
PA Health & Wellness is a local health insurance provider that is committed to improving the health of the Pennsylvania residents, one person at a time, through access to healthcare coverage. Established to deliver quality healthcare in the state of Pennsylvania through local, regional and community-based resources, PA Health & Wellness is a Managed Care Organization and subsidiary of Centene Corporation (Centene). PA Health & Wellness exists to improve the health of its beneficiaries through focused, compassionate and coordinated care. For more information, visit PAHealthWellness.com for more information.
