PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Now that city schools are out for summer, and their cafeterias are closed, many kids are losing access to much-needed food assistance. The city and local organizations are hoping to fill those meal gaps until the next school year begins.
“For those families that need extra assistance and help — that’s what I’m about,” said former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant on Tuesday, when he joined Mayor Jim Kenney and anti-hunger advocates at McPherson Square Park in Kensington to kick off Philadelphia's free summer meals program. This citywide and community-based effort will ensure that all children and youth have access to free, healthy meals.
“There are a lot of kids that aren’t being nourished properly during the summer time, because sometimes their only meals are in school,” Avant said.
The program provides lunches at 300 parks and sites across the city to encourage students to eat healthy and stay active at parks and community centers. The mayor said families and caregivers can find free meal sites near them by visiting phila.gov/food.
“Our city serves millions of nutritious, balanced meals to young people each summer,” the mayor said.
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Kenney and city officials also touted the return of Parks and Recreation’s PlayStreets and PlayParks program, which closes streets to traffic to give kids a safe place to play when school is out. No registration is required, and all kids are welcome up to the age of 18.
Akira, who lives across the street from McPherson Square Park, said she welcomes the help.
“So they can get a chance to play and get something to eat at the same time. I like the idea.”
Philabundance is also pitching in, with the help of Giant Food stores, to narrow the food gap for Philly’s youth from June 13 through Sept. 2 with its LunchBox program.
In the Philabundance service area, the percentage of children who don’t have access to enough food for a healthy and active life rose from 13.8% in 2019 to 17.3% in 2020, according to the data now available.
“We’re going to distribute 50,000 lunch box meals prepared daily at Philabundance community kitchen,” said CEO Lorre Jones Brown.
The LunchBox program also distributes 12,000 breakfasts daily in Philadelphia and eight other counties: Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem in South Jersey.
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