This year’s Summer Food Service Program will officially launch this Friday as part of the Portland Parks & Recreation summer kick-off event at Peninsula Park. The program, which is made possible through funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and support from Multnomah County, Portland Public Schools, SUN Community Schools, the Oregon Hunger Task Force and Portland Parks & Recreation, provides free meals to children and teenagers during the summertime when free and reduced meals at schools are no longer offered.
Thousands of children throughout Multnomah County benefit from free or reduced lunches during the school year, and the Summer Food Program aims to bring nutritional breakfasts and lunches to these children while they are on summer vacation.
The Summer Food Program does not ask families to apply in order to benefit, and there is no proof of income required to participate either. All children between the ages of one and 18 are welcome to enjoy the meals offered at no charge.
Many community locations throughout Multnomah County host meal sites, from parks and schools to churches and public pools. Besides bringing lunch and sometimes breakfast and snacks to local children, a good number of these sites also offer free or low-cost activities for the children participating in the program.
Federally funded summer meal programs in Oregon served lunch to more than 1.2 million children in 2005. Through important partnerships with organizations like the Oregon Hunger Task Force, Multnomah County and the City of Portland have continued to make funding for this program possible, despite difficult economic conditions and budget issues.
The summer kick-off event will take place on Friday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Peninsula Park, 700 N Rosa Parks Way. Guest speakers will make remarks at 11:30 a.m., with lunch served at 12 p.m. Free swim at Pensinsula Pool will follow the celebration, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
To find the location and meal times for sites in your area, visit the Summer Food Service Program website, or call Oregon SafeNet at 1-800-SAFENET (723-3638).