New Website Helps Families Find Summer Meals

The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced the availability of a website to help low-income families find a summer meal location for their children.

According to a release, the Summer Food Service Program is available in many areas throughout the state, including Bensalem. At these sites, meals are provided at no charge to eligible children under the age of 18.

To find a summer meal program location, visit www.pasummermeals.com. Families can locate up to 25 sites that are close to their home.

Some local meal program sites include:

• YWCA Bucks Meadows, 3131 Knights Road
• YWCA Creekside Apartments, 2500 Knights Road
• YWCA Shafer Middle School, 3330 Hulmeville Road
• Love Fellowship, 5918 Hulmeville Road

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once the new school year begins. The Summer Food Service Program was designed to ensure that children have access to nutritious meals.

Last year, 86 percent of children nationwide who were in need of food during the summer did not have access to a meal program. The Pennsylvania Summer Meals for Children Location Finder website was developed through a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, Robert A. Fox Leadership Program and PDE.

For additional information about the Summer Food Service Program, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service website at www.fns.usda.gov.

Organizations that are interested in providing meals to children through the Summer Food Service Program may call PDE’s Division of Food and Nutrition at 1- 800-331-0129.