With summer right around the corner, it’s time to think about how children who receive free or reduced-priced meals at school will eat healthy while school is out.
The Metropolitan Action Commission (MAC) has the capacity to provide meals to approximately 110 community locations that provide safe spaces for youth to gather in the summer time.
During the months of June and July, MAC provides free breakfast and lunch meals to youth programs and other gathering spots where youth are present such as apartment properties, day camps, religious based programs, community centers and sports camps.
To qualify, the meal site must serve youth or be located near schools that participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch program during the school year. This priority allows children who would ordinarily receive free meals at school to continue to have access to meals during the summer when school is out.
To apply as a summer site or for more information, youth leaders can visit the agency’s website (nashville.gov/mac) and click on “Get Free Summer Meals for Youth” or visit the agency’s main office (800 2nd Avenue, North).
Training will be provided in May for new and existing youth programs as well as ongoing monitoring to support the program. The summer meal program begins on June 5 and ends July 28.
Metro Action urges all potential sites to submit their application by Friday, April 21.
About the Summer Food Service Program
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a national program designated to provide nutritionally balanced meals for school-age children during the summer that may otherwise go without a meal during the day. Metro Action receives federal funding for the SFSP from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
For more information about the agency’s summer food program call 615-862-8860, Extension 70120.
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