Free Summer Meal Programs Kick Off Around San Diego County

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Photo by Shutterstock

Above: About 70 percent of San Diego County students who qualify for free meals at school aren't showing up to claim meals offered to them at summer programs run by school districts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Aired 6/20/17 on KPBS Midday Edition

Free Summer Meal Programs Kick Off Around San Diego County

GUESTS:

Robin McNulty, school meals program director, San Diego Hunger Coalition

Jamie Phillips, director of child nutrition services, Vista Unified School District

Transcript for audioclip 35454

School is out for summer and that means some kids may not be getting enough to eat.

According to the San Diego Hunger Coalition, more than 125,000 lower income children in the region depend on free or reduced-priced lunches. Yet, just a fraction of them participate in summer meal programs.

Several summer meal program “kick-off” events will be held this week to get the word out about where kids can get a free meal.

The Hunger Coalition has been working to expand programs to libraries and recreation centers as a way to increase access. Still, some worry deportation fears may keep immigrant families away.

Robin McNulty, school meals program director for the San Diego Hunger Coalition and Jamie Phillips, director of child nutrition services for Vista Unified School District discussed the need for summer meal programs around San Diego County, Tuesday on Midday Edition.

Summer Meal Kick Off Events

Tuesday

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Boys and Girls Club of Vista

Wednesday

10:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

Skyline Hills Park, San Diego

The summer meal programs are run by school districts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For information on locations you can text the word “food” or “comida,” in Spanish, to 877-877 or call 2-1-1 San Diego. You can also visit summermeals.org to find a meal site location in your neighborhood.

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