Summer Food Service Program provides free kids meals at three Port Jervis locations
Port Jervis. The program is administered by the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture.
| 11 Jul 2024 | 10:50
The Port Jervis Youth Center is one of three locations in the Port Jervis area that will be distributing meals to kids this summer. (
)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture kicks off its 2024 Summer Food Service Program this month to provide free meals to area kids at three Port Jervis locations.
According to the USDA, the program was established to ensure that low-income children 18 and younger receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service administers the Summer Food Service Program at the national level and the New York State Education Department (NYSED) administers it at the state level. Locally, it is operated by sponsors who apply for and are approved to operate the program.
The USDA provides an interactive map updated each Friday with local locations where kids can get free meals during the summer. The three distribution centers currently listed for Port Jervis can be found below.
- The Port Jervis Youth Center at 134 Pike Street currently plans to distribute lunch from now through August 8, 2024. Meals are distributed Monday through Friday, from 12 to 12:45 p.m. Meals are enjoyed on-site.
- Church Street Park, at 51 Church Street, is also a distribution site for lunch meals from 12 to 12:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Kids are encouraged to eat their meals on-site at this location as well. This site is also currently planning to distribution meals through to August 8.
- Port Jervis High School, at 10 Route 209, will distribute meals from now through August 29 and offers both free breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday. Breakfast is available from 6:50 to 7:10 a.m. and lunch is served from 11:25 to 11:45 a.m. Again. Meals must be enjoyed on-site.
While meal distribution at the Youth Center and park are managed by the city’s recreation department, the high school distribution site is managed by the city itself, per the USDA’s interactive map.
There are currently no Summer Food Service Program distribution locations listed for the Milford/Matamoras area.
NYSED Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “Children need nutritious meals to grow and thrive physically, emotionally, and academically. We have a moral obligation to ensure that every child in need has easy and regular access to the kinds of healthy meals that will sustain, power, and energize them all summer long – and New York’s Summer Food Service Program will make that possible across the entire state.”
For more information on available Summer Food Service Program distribution locations, visit the USDA’s interactive map at fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder.