YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – School is out for the summer, but school districts are still providing plenty of support.
Meals are being prepared and everything is set for Youngstown’s summer feeding program, which begins Monday.
“Summer meals are so important for kids to stay healthy over the summer and thrive when they come back in the fall,” said Tasin Brooks, Youngstown’s food services director.
There are seven locations in Youngstown that will be providing summer meals through July 3. The Taft Elementary location will continue through Aug. 15.
“Summer Meals fills that gap and they can go to another location nearby,” said Joyce Dix, Youngstown’s food service coordinator.
Youngstown School provides breakfast, lunch and dinner for students during the school year, and breakfast and lunch during the summer, and students notice the support.
“Some kids don’t like the weekends because they don’t get a meal until they come back on Monday, so they definitely need the support,” Dix said.
Youngstown plans to feed approximately 700 students through a variety of programs, most importantly providing food essential for children’s development.
“Nutrition is important for children’s growth, for their mental function, for their daily physical functions. It’s absolutely key and we want to protect that for our children,” Brooks said.
Venues are closed in Youngstown for safety reasons, and locations of venues that remain open will be announced Friday.
