Swimming, skateboarding, biking, and playing on the monkey bars – all summer activities of kids. But summer isn’t fun for children who are hungry.
Low-income children who depend on free lunch and breakfast at school can be at risk of hunger during the summer break when school meals are not available. Approximately 30,000 students, 45 percent, of students in Washoe County School District, qualify for free lunch at school. Many don’t know where to turn for a good meal in the summer.
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada joins forces with several community partners to provide free, nutritious meals for children and teens ages 1-18 years through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program. Last summer, about 4,000 children participated in Washoe County. Many children are eligible and live within walking distance of the 43 local meal sites.
A group of organizations committed to children’s health sponsors summer meals for kids all over Reno, Sparks, Golden Valley, Sun Valley, and Stead. This summer, meal sites will be sponsored by the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, in partnership with parks & recreation agencies of Reno, Sparks and Washoe counties, Sun Valley GID, Reno Housing Authority, and a handful of private apartment complexes.
This summer, meals are served weekdays from June 12 through August 3 (dates and times vary by site). Meals are available at several schools where there are community-sponsored summer activity programs for children. Also, many neighborhood parks are meal sites. Most sites offer lunch, and some serve a snack as well.
A list of local free meal sites with times, dates and meals served is available by calling 775-331-3663 or at fbnn.org. You can also find the site closest to you by texting ‘food’ to 877-877, or by calling the HUNGER HOTLINE 1-866-3-HUNGER.
Summer meal programs satisfy local health department rules for safe food handling and service. All meals must be eaten at the serving site in a designated area, and any children and teens ages 1-18 years can eat at any site, without charge. There are no enrollment requirements. Adults are not eligible for SFSP meals.
Call the Food Bank for more information (331-3663) or check the Kids Cafe page of the Food Bank Web site (www.fbnn.org), or text ‘food’ to 877-877.
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