Summer should be a fun and enriching time for all Colorado children, but for many it represents a time when they are at the greatest risk of hunger due to lost access to school meals. Thanks to a statewide collaboration to address child hunger, 533 community sites across Colorado will provide meals to children up to 18 years old at no cost this summer.
The Summer Food Service Program, funded by the USDA, was established to serve as a nutritional safeguard for children when school is not in session. The statewide summer food program is administered by the Colorado Department of Education and supported by Hunger Free Colorado, with hundreds of nonprofit and community-based organizations providing meals in their towns and neighborhoods.
“All children should have access to the fuel needed for healthy lives, so they can thrive in and out of school,” said Kathy Underhill, executive director for Hunger Free Colorado, the state’s leading anti-hunger advocacy organization. “It’s estimated one in five Colorado kids may not know when or where they will get their next meal, but programs like this fill a nutritional gap and help families stretch their food budgets further.”
Community sites such as churches, schools and recreation centers offer free, nutritious breakfasts, lunches and/or suppers that meet federal nutrition guidelines, as well as fun, engaging activities for children. There are no income or registration requirements for participation.
“Good nutrition during the summer months helps young people return to school ready to learn,” said Darlene Barnes, regional administrator for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Denver office. “We really appreciate our community partners for working so hard to provide children and teens access to healthy meals this summer.”
Last year nearly 1.5 million meals were served to Colorado kids and teens via the Summer Food Service Program, a 95 percent increase compared to 2009. The statewide collaboration aims to increase the number of meals served by an additional seven percent—about 105,000 meals—this summer.
“Increasing awareness and access to the Summer Food Service Program is a national and state priority,” said Jane Brand, director of the Office of School Nutrition with the Colorado Department of Education. “With the help of state partners and sponsors, Colorado is successfully increasing access to summer meals for children and fighting childhood hunger.”
Colorado families can find nearby summer food sites by using an interactive map at KidsFoodFinder.org or calling the statewide, bilingual Hunger Free Hotline toll-free at (855) 855-4626.
-Michelle Ray, Hunger Free Colorado
Author: Mile High Mamas
