Austin To Kick Off Free Summer Meals Drive For Low-Income Kids

AUSTIN, TX — Hunger doesn't take a summer break. It's relentless and unforgiving, while low-income children go without the reliable healthful daily meals of which they avail themselves at school.

Enter the Central Health Enterprise — CommUnityCare Health Centers, Sendero Health Plans and the Community Care Collaborative, Central Health’s nonprofit partnership with Seton Healthcare Family — and the Central Texas Food Bank, which will offer low-income Travis County families with a healthful free lunch every weekday for 11 weeks, starting on June 4.

While the issue of hunger might be viewed as an abstraction to many in Austin, the scourge is real: The Austin Independent School District reports that 61 percent of its students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. But when school ends, so do daily, reliable meals.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler will be joined by city officials and other community leaders on Monday, June 4, to officially kick off the hunger-busting effort in South Austin. At around 12:30 p.m. chef will be on hand to illustrate how to prepare affordable, healthful summer desserts that are so easy enough to create that even children can whip them up at home.

Scheduled to appear with Adler are: Delia Garza, District 2 Austin City Council member; District 3 Austin City Council member Sabino “Pio” Renteria; Margaret Gomez, precinct 4 Travis County commissioner; District 51 State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez; CommUnityCare CEO Jaeson Fournier; Sendero CEO Wes Durkalski; and Larry Wallace, Central Health Enterprise Chief Administrative Officer.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: Summer Lunch Program Kick-off Event. For 11 weeks, children and adults will receive a healthy, free lunch at the Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A weekend take-home food bag will be available on Fridays.

WHEN/WHERE: The kick-off event is Monday, June 4, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center, 2901 Montopolis Dr.

WHO: Volunteers from the Central Health Enterprise and the Central Texas Food Bank.

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