Matzie: More than $50,000 secured for school food service equipment

Grants will fund tilting kettle, blast chiller freezer for Aliquippa schools

AMBRIDGE, Feb. 22 – New grant funding of $50,177 to the Aliquippa School District will help cafeteria staff prepare and store school meals more efficiently, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, announced today.

Matzie said the funding includes $35,225 to Aliquippa Elementary School for the purchase of a tilting kettle and $14,952 to Aliquippa Junior Senior High School for a blast chiller freezer.

“Quick, safe food production and storage help busy school cafeteria staff and ensure smooth delivery of meals to kids,” Matzie said. “The new tilting kettle – which increases cooking capacity and improves distribution – and the blast chiller freezer – which allows safe storage of pre-prepared foods – will accomplish those things.”

The funding, which is administered by the state Department of Education, is part of a package of competitive grants awarded to 130 education agencies statewide.

The grant funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is awarded to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. Schools can use the funding to purchase or upgrade equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, stoves and dishwashers.

The full list of schools receiving grants can be found on the PDE website at: https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Food-Nutrition/programs/Pages/2022FSEAGrantAwards.aspx.