Program runs June 29 through August 28
The New York City Department of Education today announced that the annual Summer Meals Program providing free meals throughout the summer to New York City children ages 18 and younger will begin on Monday, June 29, and continue through Friday, August 28. Free breakfast and lunch will be served at various pools, schools, parks, public housing locations, libraries, community based organizations and soup kitchens throughout the city. In all, there are more than 1,000 sites throughout the five boroughs.
“In these tough economic times, it’s great to know that the City has a food program close to where children live and play,” Chief Executive of School Support Services Eric Goldstein said. “Our goal is to help reach the City’s youngsters and provide them with nutritious meals as we do during the school year.”
Children do not need to be enrolled in summer school to participate in the program, no application is required, and meals are available at any of the open sites, regardless of where a child lives. Breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.; lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. There will also be a late lunch served at several city pools for those who cannot meet the earlier time. The late lunch is served from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at nine locations. They are: Hamilton Fish Pool and Thomas Jefferson Pool in Manhattan, Crotona Pool in the Bronx, Betsy Head Pool, Bushwick Houses Pool, Red Hook Pool and Sunset Pool in Brooklyn, Fisher Pool in Queens, and West Brighton Pool in Staten Island.
This summer’s menu has many long-time favorites such as pancakes, scrambled eggs, bagels with cream cheese, yogurt, tacos, BBQ roasted chicken, corner-style pizza, crunchy carrots, “confetti” corn salad, chicken tenders salad and a cold vegetable stew with zucchini, corn, tomato and basil. All the meals provided are low in fat, low in sodium and without artificial colors or sweeteners.
The DOE’s Summer Meals Program, which is administered by the DOE’s Office of SchoolFood, has been operating for more than 30 years.
The Office of SchoolFood is holding a kick-off for its Summer Meals Program tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at PS 20 in Manhattan. Families can find their nearest open site where meals are served on the Department's Web site or by calling 311.