CARNEGIE, Pa., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pay the rent or put food on the table? That decision is an unfortunate reality for many needy New Kensington area families. Adding children to the mix only strains the budget further. And, once school is out for the summer, kids lose the benefit of subsidized meals. But now, thanks to a grant from Peoples Natural Gas, The Salvation Army’s New Kensington Worship and Service Center can continue its Weekend Youth Backpack Feeding Program through 2012.

Every week from June through September, this summer feeding program will provide 50 deserving children with backpacks full of nutritional meals for the weekend at The Salvation Army’s New Kensington Worship and Service Center. This facility provides a variety of youth in the New Kensington and surrounding areas with spiritual, character building, and educational enrichment programs as well as social development services. One of the most essential services and the most difficult to fund is geared toward physical development, most notably good nutrition.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our good friends from Peoples Natural Gas,” said Captain Elvie Carter, The Salvation Army’s New Kensington Worship and Service Center commanding officer. “My staff and I are challenged with meeting the critical needs of hurting families on a daily basis. This gift is a God-sent and welcome relief.” Carter continued, “One our kids recently told me, ‘Captain, you know why I like coming to The Salvation Army? It is the food. At my house my mother is always gone and there is never enough food. If it wasn’t for school and The Salvation Army, I wouldn’t know what me and my brothers or sisters would do for food!’ ”

First initiated by the Westmoreland County Food Bank, the Weekend Youth Backpack Feeding Program has been a viable program for the past three years. Through research and the collaboration of local agencies, churches and residents of the New Kensington communities, it was discovered that a significant number of children were not being provided with recommended nutritional meals on a regular basis, beyond the breakfast and lunch that the school district provided. It is the misfortune of these children due insufficient family income, decrease of governmental funding, reduction of feeding programs, and lack of some parental priorities that meals over the weekends are limited, absent or are deficient in nutritional value.

“It is a privilege for Peoples Natural Gas to help families in New Kensington through sponsorship of The Salvation Army’s Weekend Youth Backpack Feeding Program, ” said Peoples Natural Gas President and CEO, Morgan K. O’Brien. O’Brien continued, “We don’t just provide monetary support. Peoples Natural Gas employees provide thousands of hours of volunteer service to organizations within our communities. Our involvement is not a short term objective. It is embedded in our company’s vision and values. We are a local company and support our region and our customers through economic development and human service initiatives.”

Both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 124 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, log onto www.salvationarmy-wpa.org. The Salvation Army … Doing the most good . . . for the most people . . . in the most need.

SOURCE Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division