Coronavirus has had many effects on Delawareans since March with stay at home orders and the closure of all non-essential businesses. Governments scrambling for health supplies and workers.
Wilmington (DE): No matter what the effect of coronavirus in Delaware, all have had an economical impact with the suffering of all Delawareans including students of local schools that have also been forced closed, leaving parents and caregivers with the question of how they are going to find the extra money to feed their children at lunchtime.
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.
