Summer Food Service Program Kicks Off On Monday

The Des Moines Public School district is once again sponsoring a Summer Food Service Program, with many sites providing free meals to all children 18 years of age or younger starting next week. There are a total of 24 meal sites throughout the community that will provide lunch; 11 of those sites will also provide breakfast.

The school district has been sponsoring a summer meal program for over 30 years. Funding for the program is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Last summer, the school district served an average of 1,400 lunches per day.

Several community partners will provide educational activities at this summer’s meal sites. Special events include:

1. FoodCorps will be discussing and tasting local foods once a week during the duration of the program during lunch times at the following locations:

• Tuesdays at South Suburban YMCA
• Wednesdays at Carver Elementary
• Thursdays at Union Park

2. The Coalition in Support of Hungry Children is coordinating activities at Crivaro Park on Thursdays from 10:30-11:30 AM. Activities include nutrition education for adults (ISU Extension EFNEP program) and activities for kids (nutrition, planting, reading, clowning, playing).

3. Nutrition education and physical activity programs coordinated by the Pick a Better Snack program will start Monday, June 11. All activities will begin 30 minutes after the lunch program start time at the following locations:

• Mondays at Willard Elementary
• Tuesdays at Hillis Elementary
• Tuesdays at Ashfield park
• Thursdays at King Elementary

Free meals will be made available to all children 18 years of age or under on most week days with the exception of July 4, 2012. For a list of dates, times and locations click here or call the Food & Nutrition Department at 242-7636.