School may be out for kids in Alabama, but that doesn’t mean the lunchroom is closed.
The Alabama Food Bank Association is adding 14 new meal program sites across north Alabama to help feed students free or reduced priced meals. Students can eat breakfast, lunch, and even snacks in some locations. The program has expanded from just three sites back in 2014 to 31 sites in 11 counties across North Alabama.
Laurel Moffat is a member of the Child Hunger Corps. She says the program helps to fill the nutrition gap of less fortunate students when schools are closed for the summer.
“We know that families that have fewer resources depend more heavily on schools meals. Sometimes school lunch is the only meal that a child will eat all day. So during the summer, when schools are closed, this program provides the same kind of nutritious community meal that you get at school.”
These sites will help to feed around 2,000 children approximately 25,000 meals over the summer. The sites work in cooperation with existing summer programs at schools, churches and Boys' and Girls' Clubs. For information on where to find the closest site, you can text FOOD to 877-877.