Horizons Summer Meals Program
Summer can be an exciting time for kids who are taking family vacations, spending time with Grandma, going to camp, or hanging out at the pool with friends. However, for many children who receive free or reduced-price meals at school, the summer can mean hunger. The expense of feeding children who usually receive two meals a day at school can be a burden on the family budget.
The Summer Food Services Program, administered by the Iowa Department of Education, provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months as an extension of the school nutrition program. Horizons is serving meals in 20 locations throughout Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Mount Vernon, and Springville. Most of the sites have already been serving meals and will continue to do so every day until August 22 (except July 4).
At the summer meal sites, any child age 18 and under can come and have a nutritious meal for free. There is no application process and we don't even need to know the child's name. They simply come and have a meal...no questions asked. This year, we even received some donated funds that will allow us to offer meals to the parents of the children, too.
Horizons tried to find locations that fit the criteria for free and reduced-price eligibility and where kids like to hang out. Some sites are set up near the pool or splash pad in parks, some are in libraries and churches, and others are located in apartment complexes or trailer parks where there is a high percentage of eligible children who reside there.
Some sites such as the libraries, Kenwood School, and Jacolyn Park offer an opportunity for kids to participate in regularly scheduled activities and games. Most sites receive a weekly visit from the library cart, which gives kids the opportunity to choose a new book of their own each week.
Please help us spread the word as we try to ensure that all the kids in our community have nutritious meals over the summer.
For a list of ALL summer meals site locations in the area, click here.
NFL Veteran Aaron Kampman, an Eastern Iowa native and former Hawkeye football player, visited with kids at Horizons' Summer Meals Kickoff Event at Ellis Park on June 16
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