Free meals available to Idaho children

Idaho households in quest of nutritious choices this summer time will have the ability to entry free meals and snacks for kids ages 1 to 18 in areas all through the state with the Summer season Meals Service Program.

Many summer time meal websites are working now. To seek out the location nearest to you, textual content FOOD to 877-877; name the Idaho Care Line at 2-1-1; or go to the USA Division of Agriculture’s Discover Meals for Youngsters map: www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids

“This program does a lot greater than present wholesome meals,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra stated. “Making our faculties a central hub — even throughout the summer time months — retains Idaho’s college students and households engaged in our instructional communities. And, as everyone knows, though our youngsters take a break for the summer time, starvation actually doesn’t.”

The Summer season Meals Service Program helps the State Division of Schooling bridge the summer time vitamin hole and make sure that Idaho’s college students are glad, wholesome and able to return to highschool within the fall to be taught.

This system serves meals in areas of biggest want, with meals offered by sponsors who’re reimbursed for every qualifying breakfast, lunch, snack and/or supper they serve. In the summertime of 2021, 58 sponsors served greater than 4.1 million meals and snacks at greater than 250 websites throughout Idaho.

This system has no revenue necessities. Anybody youthful than 18 can obtain free meals, no questions requested. Most of the meal websites additionally provide video games and studying actions together with balanced meals all through the day.