AUGUSTA – With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine public schools have long provided nutritious breakfast and lunch programs to thousands of Maine children during the school year.
Many flexibilities were introduced during the pandemic to ensure children had access to extra meals while studying remotely from home or attending school in person, according to a press release.
“We applaud those who worked tirelessly to provide food for children during a difficult school year,” said a press release from the Maine Department of Education. “With summer just around the corner, this vital service will continue in many areas of Maine. The Summer Food Service Program, a US Department of Agriculture program, operates in hundreds of locations across Maine to ensure children are getting the nutrition they need. ”
The Summer Food Service program may be offered nationwide in areas or locations where more than 50 percent of children are eligible for free or discounted meals under the National School Lunch Program, or where census data support needs.
This summer, due to area eligibility exemptions, sites enabled operations in areas required by the public health emergency due to the COVID-19 emergency. Eligible sponsorship organizations include schools, summer nonprofits, government agencies, and tax-exempt organizations, including religious organizations.
“Maine’s National School Lunch Programs are an invaluable lifeline for our students, for whom schools are a much-needed and constant source of food,” said Pender Makin, commissioner for the Maine Department of Education. “The Summer Food Service Program is helping schools continue to provide this vital resource to Maine students during the summer months, and we are committed to helping schools and communities meet the needs of the whole child.”
In July 2020, 112 sponsors participated in the program and served meals in 730 locations across the state. Sponsors operate open locations in all 16 Maine counties; People under the age of 18 can eat for free.
Many sponsors will take advantage of the USDA’s flexibility in allowing meals to be taken off-site to encourage physical distance, and offering innovative delivery and service models to safely meet demand.
To find nearby Summer Meals Sites, please visit the USDA Summer Meal Site Finder website at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids, text “Summer Meals” to 97779, or call 211 at.
