Summer food program begins for children in need in Valley

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is participating in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, sponsoring more than 25 feeding sites June through August for children at risk of hunger in the Valley, including Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County.

The Food Bank expects to provide food to more than 3,400 children across its 25-county service area through the Program this summer. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to reach children who may not get nutritious meals at home over the vacation, particularly students who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year. The Food Bank provides food to places like the Boys and Girls Clubs, summer school programs, churches and recreation programs for children at risk of hunger.

The Salvation Army in Harrisonburg is one of the Food Bank’s largest SFSP partners in the Valley. Each summer, they help to distribute meals to more than 500 children each week at eight sites with the food they receive from the Food Bank.

Donations to the Food Bank typically decrease during the summer months. However, hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation, and many students who would otherwise eat breakfast and lunch at school no longer have access to those meals during the summer.

The program will help hundreds of local children in need, providing snacks and/or breakfast and lunch.  Meals are provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

See a list of local sites below. For more info, visit brafb.org.

Summer Food Service Program Sites