Many are familiar with the reduced or free lunch programs that are provided to students during the school year and our Kids Cafe, which provides a hot, healthy evening meal to students across our region. However, during the summer months those programs disappear, and so does the guaranteed meal those kids count on.
Feed More’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) works to combat summer hunger for kids by providing breakfast and lunch at almost 50 sites throughout our 34 county and city service area. It is free of cost and has no income requirements, so children up to the age of 18 can come to any site and get a meal.
Our Community Kitchen creates delicious menus that kids love, while also making sure they are getting the nutrition they need. Summer favorites like hamburger and hot dogs are a big hit among the children, and get served with sides like fruit and beans.
“We know that kids can’t be kids when they’re struggling with hunger,” said Ruth Ann Caplice, Feed More’s Manager of Children’s Programs. “So we work to ensure they are given quality meals and are able to enjoy their summer vacation to the fullest.”
Feed More continues to work hard fighting child hunger in Central Virginia, and the Summer Food Service Program is a critical program in doing that. Last summer we were able to serve more than 2,400 children through SFSP, with over 50,000 breakfasts served and over 70,000 lunches!