Meals are provided at no charge to host sites through the federal Summer Food Service Program
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Washington, D.C., March 6, 2024 – The Capital Area Food Bank is seeking community sites in DC, Maryland and Virginia to host our summer meals program, which provides free meals for children when schools are closed for the summer.
Operating through the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, the food bank’s summer meals program delivers healthy, kid-friendly meals to apartment buildings, public recreation centers, places of worship, and other locations across the region. During 2023, our summer meal sites provided more than 56,000 meals and snacks.
When schools are out of session, children can lose access to a critical source of nutritious meals. Our summer meals sites help fill that gap, ensuring that children can access the food they need to continue learning, playing and growing.
Meals are provided at no charge to host sites. Any sites interested in joining the program must meet certain requirements, including:
- Have a safe facility for serving prepared meals to children ages 18 and under;
- Serve a minimum of 15 children at least four days a week;
- Have at least two adults available to lead meal service; and
- Have an internet connection, computer and/or tablet, a working refrigerator, and sinks to wash serving utensils
Interested sites can fill out an application, which can be found on our website. Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 15. Questions about the program or how to apply can be directed to: Alexis Lahr, director of Family Government Nutrition Programs, at alahr@capitalareafoodbank.org.
About the Capital Area Food Bank:
The Capital Area Food Bank works to address hunger today and create brighter futures tomorrow for more than a million people across the region experiencing food insecurity. As the anchor in the area’s hunger relief infrastructure, the food bank provided nearly 61 million meals to people in need last year by supplying food to hundreds of nonprofit organizations, including Martha’s Table, SOME – So Others Might Eat, DC Central Kitchen, Food for Others, Manna, and others. It also works in partnership with organizations across the region to address hunger’s root causes by pairing food with critical services such as education, health care, and job training. To learn more, visit https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/ or call (202.644.9864).