ANN ARBOR, MI – Washtenaw County families who rely on free and reduced-price meals during the school year will no longer have to worry about their children going hungry this summer, thanks to the Food Gatherers free meal program.
The Summer Food Service Program will provide free meals to teens and children between June 17 and Aug. 16 at several locations.
“By offering a variety of meal and grocery options, we hope to help more children and families get the nutrition they need to have a fun, healthy summer,” said Leronica Roberts, Food Gatherers community food program manager. “We encourage families to take advantage of as many programs as they need, whatever works best for them.”
Families can receive the free meals in three ways:
Eat and Play – Children who visit Eat and Play locations around Washtenaw County must eat their meals on site and can enjoy games and activities.
Grab and Go – Families can pick up grab-and-go meals even if they don’t have children present, or pick up meals on someone else’s behalf.
Mini Grocery Pickup – Participants will receive a pre-packaged box of groceries to take home.
Participants are encouraged to choose the method that best suits their needs.
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Meals are provided to children up to age 18, regardless of school district. Anyone up to age 26 who is enrolled in a state-certified education program or local public education institution can receive meals.
A dining schedule in various languages and a map of locations can be found online here , or you can call Food Gatherers at 734-761-2796 or text FOOD or COMIDA at 304-304.
Families in need of food during the summer can also contact their local school district to find out about meal programs for enrolled students. Parents can also inquire about the federal Summer Sunbucks program, which provides $120 in food benefits to families with qualifying school-age children.
The summer program is supported by the Michigan Department of Education, Toyota Research and Development, Kroger and the Ann Arbor Rotary Club.
Check with your school regarding school lunches. Many school districts offer summer meal programs for enrolled students. Contact your school district for more information.
Find a local food pantry: Food Gatherers has a network of partner food pantries and meal programs available year-round to anyone in need. For a directory of free food pantries in Washtenaw County, visit Food Gatherers’ Find Food page or call 734-761-2796. To find resources outside of Washtenaw County, call 2-1-1 or
Visit mi211.org. About Food Gatherers
Food Gatherers’ mission is to alleviate hunger and eliminate its root causes in Washtenaw County. Last year, our food bank and food rescue programs distributed 7.8 million pounds of food to more than 140 nonprofit programs serving adults, seniors and children. For a list of our partner programs and to learn how you can get involved in local hunger-elimination efforts, visit www.foodgatherers.org or call 734-761-2796.
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