Metro Philadelphia<\/p>\n
Hundreds of sites across Philadelphia will provide free meals to children and teens this summer through the city\u2019s annual Summer Meals program<\/a>, officials announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n The program, launched at the Tustin Recreation Center in West Philadelphia, is a partnership between the city\u2019s Office of Children and Families, Parks and Recreation, American Dairy Association North East, Nutritional Development Services of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia and the CBS Food Program.<\/p>\n Officials expect more than 1 million meals to be served this summer as part of an effort to close the \u201csummer hunger gap\u201d when school is not in session<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cSummer should be a time for children to learn, play, and make memories, not a time when families worry about where their next meal will come from,\u201d said Mayor Cherelle Parker. \u201cEvery child deserves that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n More than 500 meal sites will operate across the city, including many recreation centers and locations run in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Housing Authority and other agencies.<\/p>\n Vanessa Garrett Harley, the city\u2019s chief deputy mayor for social impact and strategic initiatives, said the program ensures children have access to healthy meals regardless of where they live.<\/p>\n \u201cAccess to food is a basic need, and meeting that need helps give young people the foundation to learn and succeed,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n A $25,000 grant from the Mayor\u2019s Alliance Action Fund to End Childhood Hunger is supporting outreach and awareness efforts for the program, with additional support from philanthropic partners including Dollar Tree.<\/p>\n Summer meal sites are open now through Aug. 21. All children and youth 18 and under are eligible, and no ID, proof of citizenship, or registration is required. Meals must be eaten on-site under federal guidelines.<\/p>\n Families can find locations and schedules at phila.gov\/food<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cA free meal can be the beginning of so much more,\u201d said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson. \u201cFor some Philadelphia families, these meals provide critical support during the summer months. They also serve as a gateway to our recreation centers, connecting youth to enriching programs, caring mentors, and opportunities to learn and grow all year long.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Many children may also qualify for SUN Bucks, a grocery assistance program providing $120 per eligible child for families to purchase groceries during the summer. Find out more by visiting\u00a0dhs.pa.gov\/sunbucks<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cFood insecurity remains a real challenge for too many of our students and families, and we know that a child who is hungry cannot fully focus on learning, growing, and thriving,\u201d said School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington. \u201cTogether, we are ensuring that children across Philadelphia continue to have access to healthy meals to accelerate their success year-round.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n A full list and interactive map of student meal sites for summer, pantries, meal sites, and older adult meal sites can be found at\u00a0phila.gov\/food<\/a>.<\/p>\n