The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.
Federal School Lunch Program Website
The Food Stamp Program serves as the first line of defense against hunger. It enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Food stamp recipients spend their benefits to buy eligible food in authorized retail food stores.
Food Stamps Online Resources
PA Food Stamp Application
WIC is a federally funded program that provides healthy supplemental foods and a range of nutrition services for pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children under age five in a supportive environment.
Allegheny County WIC Offices
PA WIC Eligibility Guidelines
The United Way has a helpline which provides phone numbers and websites for a wide array of food assistance (also clothing, housing, medical assistance)
– CONTACT INFO: Local phone number: (412) 261-6010, available from 8:30 to 5:00 M-F
United Way HelpLine: (412) 255-1155.
United Way’s Online Resources
Sesame Street character web-based activities for children and parents directed at learning to make healthy food choices.
Sesame Street Workshops
An international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.
– Central Referral Phone – (412) 276-5630
La Leche Online Resources
Provides resources for breastfeeding women and their families.
Breastfeeding Website
Compiled by Drs Hanley and Lewis, Residents at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Last updated Sept 21, 2006
A community outreach program uniting people of all faiths to serve Monroeville residents who are in need of food and other necessities. Provides nutritional food, personal care items, and social services to those who need them in order to sustain, strengthen and to educate.
Crossroads Food Pantry Online Resources
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating hunger and developing collaborative strategies to encourage self-reliance in southwestern Pennsylvania.
– CONTACT INFO: 1 North Linden
Duquesne, PA 15110
(412)460-FOOD
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Online
An interfaith nonprofit organization that addresses the spiritual, emotional, physical and material needs of people in crisis, hardship and poverty.
Provides a lengthy list of local food pantries with contact information.
– CONTACT INFO: 412-487-6316.
North Hills Outreach Online
The Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center works to end hunger and to increase opportunities for all Pennsylvanians to meet their food needs with health and dignity.
Hunger Action’s Food Information Line links people in need to food through local pantries or soup kitchens in all sixty-seven Pennsylvania counties.
– CONTACT INFO: 1-800-FOOD-997.
Hunger Action’s Food Stamp Screening Line helps people decide whether to apply for food stamp benefits. Telephone screening is available to residents of 65 Pennsylvania counties (excluding Allegheny and Philadelphia).
– CONTACT INFO: 1-800-634-2033.
PA Hunger Action Online Resources
This program was established to help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It also helps to prevent, identify and treat weight related problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The program involves a multidisciplinary team, which includes physicians, nurses, nutritionists, exercise specialists and behavioral specialists.
– CONTACT INFO: Initial appointments: 412-692-8041
A referral from a primary care or other physician is required.
CHP’s Weight Management Center Online Resources
A Center for Action Against Hunger is a membership organization which promotes economic justice and works to influence public policy and to educate, empower, and mobilize the citizens of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania communities toward the elimination of hunger
– Summer food program: Call 1-888-FOOD-210 to find a site near you.
Just Harvest Website
Provides cash assistance to States to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions. The program operates in more than 72,000 schools and institutions, serving a daily average of some 8.4 million children. It is administered at the Federal level by FNS. State education agencies administer the School Breakfast Program at the State level, and local school food authorities operate it in schools.
Federal School Breakfast Program Website