Volunteers are seen at Mag’s Half Time Pub & Eatery in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday preparing lunches for area students who are out of school due to the virus-related shutdown.
Courtesy of Denise Thomas
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WILKES-BARRE — Amid the closure of all schools across Pennsylvania, one of the biggest challenges facing local parents and students is where youths will eat.
Many students in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District depend on school meals, and without a school to go to, a lot of kids could be at risk of going hungry.
But not if 570 on the Go can help it.
The local organization spent hours on Sunday preparing thousands of bagged lunches, which they will distribute across six sites throughout Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Township and Plains Township today and Tuesday for students in K-12 grades.
“Without the school lunches, these kids won’t eat,” said Denise Thomas, the events coordinator for 570 on the Go and a school board member at Wilkes-Barre Area.
570 on the Go was founded by Wilkes-Barre resident Shakir Soto. That name may sound familiar; Soto was a standout football player at GAR High School, and played college ball at the University of Pittsburgh before stints with the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders of the National Football League, and the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football.
Soto currently suits up for the Seattle Seahawks, but still holds a love for the area he grew up in.
“He never forgot his roots,” Thomas said.
Now, as coronavirus fears have forced schools to close down, 570 on the Go is stepping up in a big way.
Any child from grades K-12, is invited to stop by one of the six designated locations to “Grab ’n Go” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and Tuesday. Students in K-6 need to have an adult present, though.
The six sites are: Coal Street Park, Mayflower Park, Miner Park, the Wilkes-Barre Township firehouse, the Second Street firehouse in Plains Township, and the Washington Street Playground.
Thomas was incredibly gracious with her praise, citing the community as well as the townships and cities of the area as crucial to the cause. Plenty of local businesses have also chipped in, including Pizza Bella, where Thomas and the rest of the organization purchased dozens of pies for cheap to distribute on Tuesday.
“The whole community really came together, there’s just too many people to thank,” Thomas said.
Thomas also made it a point to note that, in addition to the incredible efforts of 570 on the Go, Wilkes-Barre Area is still planning on serving their own “Grab ‘n Go” style lunches starting on Monday, also from 11 a.m to 1 p.m., and extending for the foreseeable future.
“Make sure you take advantage of both programs,” Thomas said.
