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With the school year winding down, organizations across New Jersey are gearing up to serve fresh, healthy summer meals to children and teens in communities across the state.
Funded through the USDA, these meals must meet USDA nutritional guidelines, which call for balanced foods that contain low salt and sugar and whole grains. This summer, New Jersey expects to have about 1,300 sites across the state serving meals to children and teens 18 and under.
Not only do these programs provide nutritious meals, many also give kids a chance to engage in fun, healthy activities during the summer months. Schools districts, local recreation departments, food banks and other community organizations act as summer meal sponsors, providing food to sites throughout a community and, often, neighboring communities.
The meals are served at parks, schools, pools, libraries, recreation programs and other places where children congregate in the summer.
Some sites require children to be enrolled in a recreation or academic program. Others are “open” sites where any child can go to receive free, healthy meals. At open sites, parents do not need to provide proof of income, residence or any other identification. They can simply bring their child to a site for a meal in their community.
To find open sites, parents can visit the USDA summer meals sitefinder, text “food” to 9779 or call 1-866-3-HUNGRY. It’s best to check with the site before visiting to be sure they serve meals to any child, regardless of whether they are registered with the program.
Unfortunately, too few children and parents know they can receive these meals at sites throughout their communities.
You can help! The New Jersey Food for Thought Campaign has posted a local outreach toolkit, flyers and social media messages.
Please share these messages with your e-networks, post on social media and distribute flyers in your community.
Working together, we can ensure that no New Jersey child goes hungry this summer and that all children return to school in September with the nourishment they need to thrive and succeed.
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