News Release:
Free Lunch for Kids at 29 Locations in City
June 28 Picnic Kicks Off Summer Program
June 22, 2007
SAN DIEGO – There is such a thing as a free lunch for kids aged 2-18 this summer at 29 locations inside the more than 200 square miles of San Diego’s school district.
A cooperative venture between the San Diego Unified School District and the City of San Diego’s Park and Recreation Department, the Summer Food Program provides lunches to all kids.
“All they need to do is be at one of the locations and they’ll get lunch,” said Gary Petill, director of the district’s food services program. “There’s no enrollment, no paperwork and no income qualifications.”
The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services and provides healthy meals for children during the summer months when school is out.
The program, now in its fourth year, served more than 80,000 meals last summer.
“Many of our students are on free or reduced-price lunch programs,” said Petill. “Just because they’re on summer vacation doesn’t mean lunch is any less important.”
The kickoff picnic is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, June 28, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Park, 6401 Skyline Drive, San Diego. The picnic will feature many games, prizes and balloons. And, of course, lunch will be free for children and – at the picnic only -- their parents. More than 600 kids and their parents or guardians are expected.
Scheduled guests will include members of the San Diego Shockwave indoor football team.
The 29 locations include many recreation centers, some schools and even on base at MCAS Miramar, running from the beach area to San Carlos, Paradise Hills to University City. Free lunches will be served at city recreation centers from June 25 through August 29. Lunch dates at school sites vary, based on when the schools are open during the summer, as some are on a year-round schedule. They’ll also close earlier, some by July 20 or August 3, to begin preparing for the new school year.
Nationwide, the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program serves more than two million lunches every day. Lunch sites must be in areas where at least half of the local children are eligible for free or reduced price school meals.
Other programs are being offered by other school districts in other parts of the county. For information on where a summer lunch program might be near you, call the county-wide information number, 211.
2007 Summer Lunch Program Schedule & Locations
