One in five children in Erie County don’t know where their next meal will come from, that’s according to the YMCA of Greater Erie.
But the YMCA unveiled a new initiative today on Erie’s east side to help fight that battle.
The YMCA converted a 72 passenger bus into a mobile kitchen.
The bus will make its way through Erie county this summer, providing meals to those in need.
Tammy Roche says, “The real purpose of the bus is to take already healthy, nutritious meals into neighborhoods where kids have a real concern over food.”
The food and fun bus will travel to three locations starting in June, the East Bayfront Neighborhood, Belle Valley Elementary School and Shawnee Village in Corry.
The East Bayfront community says they’re thankful a service like this is coming to their community.
Del Birch says, “In zip code 16507, the poverty rate is 47 percent, which is way above Erie’s poverty rate of 27 percent. So there’s a real need here.”
And the kids who enjoyed the tacos say they are thankful.
“It’s nice because a lot of people can’t have dinner.”
Roche says, “This is a wonderful thing for us to be able to do. In many ways it makes me sad that we have a need, but I’m always so glad that they can help fill the need.”
The food and fun bus will be in the East Bayfront Neighborhood and Belle Valley Monday through Friday and in Corry on Saturday’s starting in June.
The YMCA is taking donations for the program’s food and fuels costs, and those can be dropped off directly at the their locations.