A citywide free meal program for children is underway and providing local youth under the age of 18 with healthy, easily accessible snacks and meals.
The federal “Free Summer Meals Program” is catering to millions of children throughout the country, through funding from the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families. The program runs from June 4 until Aug. 10 at most locations, Monday through Friday.
With 85 sites scattered throughout the city, each neighborhood has a place nearby where kids can go for a free, nutritious meal. The meals are served at YMCAs, high schools, Boys and Girls Clubs and community centers.
The variety of food served ensures a high turnout and healthy and satisfied kids. Modeled after the USDA nutrition guidelines, the meals served are either hot or cold and include a carton of milk, a piece of fruit and carrots or some other type of vegetable. Main dish options can range from salads, burgers, burritos and hotdogs to some type of noodle or pasta dish. There is a calendar available to those who want a schedule of the menu.
The Mission, with 11 centers, has more locations than any other neighborhood in San Francisco. More than half of the centers in the Mission serve both a snack and a full meal. While the food served is nothing fancy, it’s available to those in need.
Some sites only serve lunch, breakfast, or an afternoon or evening snack. Lunch times vary from location to location, some starting at 11:30 a.m. and others at 12:30 p.m. Some sites serve snacks at 4:30 p.m.
All meals are served on a first come, first serve basis. There is no need for proof of income or application and, as a federal program, it does not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation or any other factor.
“They’re just standard school lunches,” said Kate Baker, coordinator at Mission High School. “The program here runs six weeks and I’ve noticed we feed our students who attend here as well as anyone who’s coming in from the street.”
The Mission Boys and Girls Club is one of the busiest in the city year round.
“We serve teens coming in from the street on their own,” said Alice Moriaz, a Boys and Girls Club coordinator. “Some of them just come in to get a snack or lunch … The kids who come into this location are from lower income families, and it’s nice to know we can help provide them food.”
Even in the face of ongoing budget cuts and program shortages, those in charge of programs like the Free Summer Meals Program are working to ensure their services will be available year round. However, as of now, there is no indication that meals will still be available in the fall.