SACRAMENTO — School might be out in a few weeks, but hunger does not take a summer break. When school lets out for summer, millions of children typically lose access to the school breakfasts and lunches they rely on for nourishment, which means they risk going hungry.
Fortunately, that is when the Summer Meal Programs begin. As part of ongoing efforts to ensure kids have access to healthy meals during the summer months, Dairy Council of California, through the Let’s Eat Healthy initiative, is pleased to announce partnership with No Kid Hungry, a national organization that focuses on ending childhood hunger, to incorporate a text line service in promotional resources for summer meals. The text line will help connect families to sites that will serve free meals to kids and teens.
“Success of the Summer Meal Programs is all about ease of access to information,” says Tammy Anderson-Wise, CEO of Dairy Council of California. “We want to ensure information and resources to promote summer meals are accessible to child nutrition program operators and community organizations who serve or have a connection point with children and families. This is also a great opportunity to assist in food access and nutrition security while supporting local food purchasing from California producers at a time when schools are out for the summer.”
The Summer Meal Programs are funded by the USDA, administered by California Department of Education, and run by school districts with the support of local organizations serving as summer meal site sponsors. Meal sites can be found throughout California communities.
California families can text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 and type in a zip code to find nearby meal sites, along with operating days and times. No application, registration or proof of residency or citizenship is required at sites.
To access or download summer meal promotion resources available through Let’s Eat Healthy, visit HealthyEating.org/SummerMeals.
–Dairy Council of California