The Houston Food Bank has launched the Summer Food Service Program, which started on Monday. The program provides free nutritious meals to children aged 18 and under, as well as enrolled students with disabilities up to age 21.
The program is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrition program, supported by the Texas Department of Agriculture, and aims to provide up to 10,000 meals daily this summer. It is intended to help nearly two million food-insecure children in Texas who may face malnutrition during the school break. CW39 reports that Chief Development Officer Julie Voss said, "With a lot of the federal funds the food bank is doing the same amount more with less. And so any support to help us ramp up for summer food, whether it’s volunteers or financial support, is greatly appreciated."
The Houston Food Bank operates more than 158 feeding sites, including new locations in rural areas such as Sealy Christian Pantry and Faith Mission WIC in Brenham, according to Click2Houston. Some noncongregate sites require parents or guardians to show proof of their child’s school enrollment, like report cards or birth certificates, when picking up meals. The Houston Food Bank is seeking volunteers and donations to support the program during the summer. Families needing assistance can contact the Houston Food Bank at 713-223-3700 or [email protected].
