Wilmington’s 200,000th Meal To Be Served This Week

From the City of Wilmington:

May 13, 2020

First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney (right, front) joins Mayor Purzycki in thanking City food service staff

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Parks and Recreation Director Kevin F. Kelley Sr. today announced that the City’s special COVID-19 citywide meal distribution system, which began on March 17, is on track to deliver its 200,000th meal this week. They credited the Parks Department’s food service and delivery staff along with community volunteers for conducting such an important program in this period of uncertainty for many families.

Delaware’s First Lady, Tracey Quillen Carney, visited the Parks and Rec meal preparation site on Monday at the Municipal Services Complex, at 500 Wilmington Avenue, to lend her support for this vital program, which distributes about 5,000 meals daily – mostly breakfast and lunch – at more than two dozen sites around the City. Roughly 179,000 meals have been given out to date.

“It was great to visit with—and more important, to thank—the Parks and Recreation staff on Monday, as they were loading the trucks and vans,” said Mrs. Carney. “They told me they would hit 200,000 meals served this week, which is beyond heartwarming in terms of service. I see one of the City food vans on my usual walk route, and I always clap for them as they go by. Feeding children is surely one of the best definitions of essential.”

“My thanks to the First Lady for stopping by to recognize our teams,” said Mayor Purzycki. “Parks Director Kelley, his food service teams from the Municipal Complex and the Hicks Anderson Community Center, and even some of our Parking Enforcement Officers have worked very hard these past two months to ensure that every young person who needs a meal can get one within a reasonable distance from his or her home.”

Through this program, City children and teenagers under 18 years of age can receive a combined breakfast and lunch meal, and in some cases a dinner, at any one of the 27 sites listed as part of this news release. The so-called “grab and go” meal sites are in addition to regular after-school food sites available around Wilmington.

The meal site locations in Wilmington include:

Site
Address
Hours

3rd and Connell Park
3rd and Connell Streets
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

4th and Rodney Tot Lot
300-398 North Rodney Street
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

23rd & Tatnall Street
23rd & Tatnall Streets
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

28th & Market Street
28th & Market Streets
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. (M&W)

30th & Washington Street
30th & Washington Streets
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Ark South Learning Center
601 South Heald Street
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Ark Summer Camp
534 Vandever Avenue
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Beacon of Hope
4001 North Market Street
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Brown Chihocki
9th Avenue and Duncan Streets
12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Clifford Brown Park
Clifford Brown Walk and 9th Street
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Father Tucker Park
9th and Scott Streets
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Grace United Methodist Church
900 North Washington Street
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Helen Chambers Park
601 North Madison Street
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Howard High School
401 East 12th Street
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Johnny’s Market Parking Lot
1116 Maryland Avenue
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Kingswood Community Center
2300 Bowers Street
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Kosciusko Park
Broom and Maple Streets
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

LJ’s Playpen Academy, Inc.
2601 Carter Street
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Michael’s Park
Stroud and Wright Streets
12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Neighborhood House Inc. / Southbridge
1218 B Street
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Police Athletic League
3707 North Market Street
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

St. Michaels School & Nursery
700 North Walnut Street
11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

West End Neighborhood House
701 North Lincoln Street
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center
501 North Madison Street
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
(T & Th)

Winston Truitt Park
New Castle Avenue & A Street
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
(M -Th)

Woodlawn Library
2020 West 9th Street
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Youth Empowerment
1009 Sycamore Street
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

All meals served Monday through Friday, except where otherwise noted.

This press release was produced by the City of Wilmington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.