The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is participating in the USDA Summer Food Service Program, sponsoring 13 locations to help ensure children throughout the region have access to nutritious foods that will fuel them as they learn, play and grow.
One in seven Virginia children is food insecure. Summer meal programs provide support to children who may not have access to nutritious meals at home over the summer. Students who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year are especially at risk.
The Food Bank provides healthy breakfast items, vegetables, fruits, meat and other protein dishes and snacks to Boys & Girls Clubs, summer school programs, churches, recreational programs and other organizations that serve children at risk of food insecurity. This nutritious food is provided free of charge to all children, helping them grow and develop healthily.
Les Sinclair, from the Blue Radfe Community Food Bank, said children were particularly at risk because few schools provided meals.
“Summer is a tough season for families with children. Hunger means no summer holidays,” he said.
During this summer program, the food bank expects to feed approximately 400 children throughout its 25-county service area through SFSP.
The meal kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and each meal kit will include five breakfasts and five dinners.
In Rockingham County, meals will be provided at the Elkton Boys & Girls Club, 302 West B St., weekdays from June 17 through Aug. 9 from noon to 12:45 p.m. and 4 to 4:15 p.m.
Meals will also be provided weekdays through Aug. 16 from 8 to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon at the Shenandoah Valley Child Development Center, 2867 W. Mosby Road in Harrisonburg.
Another option is the Boys & Girls Club, 620 Sims Avenue, Harrisonburg, weekdays from 12:00 noon to 12:45pm and 3:00pm to 3:45pm, June 17th through August 9th.
and the South River Boys and Girls Club, 2101 Elm Ave., Grottoes.
June 17, weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Plains Boys & Girls Club, 225 American Legion Road, Timberville, weekdays from June 17 to Aug. 9, from noon to 12:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the food bank’s website at http://www.brafb.org/summerfoodserviceprogram.
