How NYC households can entry free summer season meals
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For a lot of New York Metropolis households, the summer season months include added stress, as youngsters are out of faculties the place free meals are offered every day.
Throughout the 5 boroughs, free summer season meal websites are working to alleviate that concern — and due to a texting service, households can rapidly discover the closest website for his or her youngsters. Thus far, town has served greater than 3 million meals, a tempo matching final 12 months, in line with town’s Schooling Division.
Summer season meals are supplied at a spread of public faculties and different group websites, serving free breakfast and lunch to anybody 18-years-old or youthful. Different places embrace metropolis swimming pools, parks, camps, nonprofit organizations, and extra.
Households can textual content “FOOD” (or “COMIDA” for a Spanish-language service) to 304-304 to obtain a listing of the closest free meal websites. No registration, documentation, or identification is required to entry free meals.
The texting service comes from No Child Hungry, a nationwide marketing campaign of the group Share Our Energy. It compiles info from the U.S. Division of Agriculture, state businesses, and college district web sites, giving households handy choices close by, in line with a spokesperson for the marketing campaign.
Households may search metropolis websites utilizing an schooling division search software.
Starvation points have continued to affect households within the metropolis, with almost three-quarters of New York households reporting it was tougher to afford groceries this previous 12 months, in line with a current No Child Hungry ballot.
In a press release, Rachel Sabella, director of No Child Hungry New York, referred to as the free meals program a “important lifeline” for struggling households.
The texting service additionally contains details about get Supplemental Vitamin Help Program, or SNAP, advantages, which if eligible can present households with further month-to-month funds for meals. Town, nevertheless, has been the topic of a lawsuit over delays in processing SNAP advantages.
Free summer season meals shall be supplied at metropolis websites till Sept. 1. Meals should be eaten on website at most places, although some permit pick-up.
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Throughout the summer season months, town usually serves greater than 7 million meals, faculties Chancellor David Banks stated at a press convention final week.
“We serve at parks and swimming pools and faculties,” he stated. “Wherever the individuals are, our workplace of faculty meals diet is there responding to the necessity.”
This summer season, New York Metropolis public college households will even obtain $120 per baby in pandemic meals advantages, in line with state officers.
Julian Shen-Berro is a reporter overlaying New York Metropolis. Contact him at jshen-berro@chalkbeat.org.
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