Second Harvest Food Bank is bringing back its summer food program, providing free, healthy lunches and snacks to children 18 and younger across Orange County.
It's part of the food bank's Kids Cafe program, which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.
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From late May through August, children who depend on free breakfasts and lunches at school will not have to miss a meal during the hot summer months.
According to a recent report from Feeding America, one in eight children in Orange County fits the criteria for food insecurity, a ratio that has increased steadily over the last few years.
Second Harvest said it served over half a million people just last month, which shows the need for programs like this is only growing.
"We have provided 54,000 meals last summer and 31,000 snacks. And it's great food," Claudia Bonilla Keller, CEO of Second Harvest in Orange County, told KNX News. "It's grilled chicken sandwiches, breakfast, biscuits, sliders, hummus and pita, yogurt parfaits. Good stuff for kids to fuel not only their summer learning but their summer fun."
Keller calls the program a lifeline for many kids, and with no registration, paperwork, or eligibility requirements, it's simple and easy access to a vital resource.
The program will operate at 49 sites throughout the county. To find the nearest open site, call 211 or text 898211 to ask about distribution hours.
The food bank also has an interactive map along with all the details on its website.
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