Cleveland Public Library serves free summer meals for kids

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Public Library has 27 branches and all of them are serving free meals this summer season.

The library system is one in all many websites all through the state that’s collaborating within the Ohio Summer time Meals Service Program.

“We’ve been doing this since 2007,” stated Annisha Jeffries, youth providers supervisor for the Cleveland Public Library major department.

 Jeffries stated youngsters ages one by means of 18 are eligible, with no registration wanted.

“If a baby is hungry, if they need a spot they’ll go to and get a meal, they’ll at all times go to their closest department or come to our library,” Jeffries stated.

Jeffries stated it’s a needed service that the library is comfortable to assist with.

“Youngsters and oldsters, we wish all the things [sic], we wish them to be stress free,” she stated. “And typically while you’re hungry, you understand, you’re not excited about anything. You’re excited about feeding your self. You’re excited about simply, you understand, the relieving stress about the place the subsequent meal will come.”

Fulfilling the wants of the neighborhood is why Rice department supervisor Lexy Kmiecik stated she pursued the occupation.

“This is a superb instance of the best way the library serves the neighborhood,” Kmiecik stated.

On the menu, on the Rice department, is a straightforward boxed lunch.

“They’re nothing fancy. They’re identical to sandwiches,” Jeffries stated. “It may very well be peanut butter and jelly, like these Uncrustables. There’s at all times, like, a milk, a bit of fruit, and greens, a sandwich. And many of the sandwiches that we have now are like turkey-based. They’re not like pork or something and we all know that some individuals can’t eat that.”

For Jeffries, this meal additionally opens the door for teenagers to take a look at among the enjoyable and academic programming her department gives.

“It’s not college, however it’s enjoyable. And, you understand, that’s what the library’s right here for [and] oh, it’s free. The whole lot is free right here,” Jeffries stated.

Jeffries stated they serve lunch on weekdays, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.