By NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña | Through September 4, free, healthy Summer Meals will be available for all children 18 years or younger at more than 1,000 locations across the city — and for the first time, families can download the Apple and Android user-friendly mobile app, Schoolfood, to choose from more than 1,000 sites and access daily menus.
Last year, more than 8 million meals were served, a spike from the 7.6 million meals served during the previous summer. The Department of Education (DOE) has launched a multi-lingual campaign to reach millions of more families this summer.
In New York City, more than 477,000 children face hunger — about one in four, making them vulnerable to infections, diseases and more likely to be hospitalized. Eating healthy meals is critical for a child’s development and helps them stay ready for the new academic year in the fall. By providing free, accessible breakfast and lunch for children of all ages, the DOE is helping to continue good habits during the summer months, regardless of their zip code.
Summer Meals will be available at schools, libraries, parks, public housing sites, community-based organizations, and soup kitchens throughout the five boroughs. Sites will serve breakfast weekdays from 8 a.m.–9:15 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
This summer’s menu includes new items such as blueberry pancakes, yogurt and granola, and cheese omelet with salsa — along with longtime favorites like roasted chicken, beef tacos, black bean and corn salad, and fresh watermelon. All meals are low in fat and sodium and prepared without artificial colors or sweeteners.
And for the first time, food trucks will be open for lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mon.–Fri. (in Manhattan, at Rivington Playground at the Sara D. Roosevelt Park in the Lower East Side). Participation requires no ID, registration or documentation. Children don’t need to be enrolled in summer school to participate in the summer meals program and no application is required.
For more information, call 311, text “nycmeals” to 877-877 or visit schoolfoodnyc.org.
