In Oregon and across the nation, many children receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch while school is in session through USDA’s School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs. However, when schools are out over the summer, many of the participating children are likely to have limited or no access to these two daily meals. Together, we can work to ensure that kids who rely on free and reduced-price foods during the school year have access to food over the summer, too.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service serves free, healthy meals to eligible low-income children and teens during the summer months. Community facilities and multi-family housing complexes funded by USDA Rural Development often make ideal locations to host the Summer Food Service Program in rural communities. Host sites offer a location for meals to be distributed, provide oversight, and keep records. Those interested in learning more about serving as a meal site can find additional information in the USDA fact sheet.
In Oregon, Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon and the Oregon Department of Education are the primary organizations in the state that can help establish new sites and offer additional support funds.
Join USDA in the fight against childhood hunger this summer! Apartment managers in Oregon can contact Faith Harris, (503) 414-3358, and community facility managers can contact Ella Nichols, (503) 414-3354 to learn more about serving a meal site.
To learn more about how your organization can serve as a meal site, review the USDA fact sheet. To find a summer meal site in your community, call (866) 338-6479 or visit the summer meal site finder.