Salem Summer Meals Host Free Cookouts for Children

SALEM, MA (from Salem Public Schools) – Now through August 24th, the Salem Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services department, sponsor for the Salem Summer Meals Program, will be hosting cookouts every Tuesday,Wednesday, and Thursday evening for children under the age of 18. The service will run from 4 to 6 p.m. at Palmer Cove Park behind the Plummer OnPoint building at the corner of Leavitt and Congress Streets. Cold meals will be offered at the same time on Fridays.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with OnPoint to provide supper to children," said Deborah Jeffers, director of Food & Nutrition Services for the Salem Public Schools. "Ensuring that our children have access to fresh healthy food year-round is a priority for the district. We know that when children eat regularly, they are able to concentrate better, are less stressed and are more able to achieve."

"I am thrilled that our Summer Meals program is going strong this year and am grateful to our staff, the volunteers, and all of our host sites participating in the program this summer," said Mayor Kim Driscoll. "Access to healthy food is so critical to our children’s well-being and a program like this adds a great community engagement element and opportunities for active play and recreation, as well. I invite all Salem families to come by a Summer Meals site and enjoy some good fun and good fun!"

In addition to dinner, children can also get free breakfast and lunch at the nearby Saltonstall Elementary School every Monday through Friday through Aug. 18. Breakfast is served from 8 to 9 a.m., lunch is served 11:30am to 12:30pm.

Both the Saltonstall and Palmer Cove locations enable families to take advantage of the nearby and newly renovated Mary Jane Lee Park. The splash pad is perfect for hot summer days, and children can enjoy the upgraded playground equipment including the new rubber surfacing, expanded lawn, the basketball court, as well as a shaded pavilion.

Across from the Plummer OnPoint building at Palmer Cove Park, families can enjoy the ocean view while visiting Salem GreenSpace, the Salem YMCA’s community garden. Located in a converted batting cage, the garden is maintained by students and community volunteers, serves as a classroom, and provides fresh produce to neighborhood residents.

The Salem Summer Meals Program enables families to provide breakfast, lunch and dinners to their children at fourteen weekday locations throughout Salem during the summer months. New this year, Salem Summer Meals now offers expanded service times, additional meal sites and supper. Please see the attached schedule for other locations. Since launching Salem Summer Meals on July 6, the program has already served 5,325 meals in the first seven days of service.

The Salem Summer Meals Program is a federally funded program administered by the Massachusetts Department of Education and sponsored locally by the Salem Public Schools’ Food & Nutrition Services.

Image via Salem Public Schools