Chancellor Carranza Kicks Off Annual Summer Meals Program for All New Yorkers Under 18
Meals available at nearly 1,200 sites across the City from June 27 to August 31
NEW YORK—Chancellor Richard A. Carranza today announced the launch of the 2018 Summer Meals program, providing free, nutritious breakfast and lunch options at nearly 1,200 sites across the City from June 27 to August 31. All children under the age of 18 are eligible to participate at sites, including schools, parks, pools, libraries, and food trucks across all five boroughs.
No identification or application is required, and meals are available Monday through Friday with breakfast served from 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM, and lunch served from 11:00AM to 1:15 PM. Select locations and trucks will also offer meals on Saturday and Sunday.
“Providing free, high-quality, and nutritious meal options to young people through Summer Meals is critical for ensuring the well being of students throughout the summer months,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “We want every family in NYC to know these meals are available at a site near them, and we encourage them to take advantage of this important program.”
Providing families with information and access to these meals is a top priority for the City, and this year the DOE has translated the SchoolFood mobile app into the 10 DOE languages, and conducted outreach to families through their schools before the end of the school year via backpacked flyers that are also available in 10 languages. Meal locations are available through the SchoolFood website and mobile app, NYC 311 website and app, the New York State Education Department website, and the Hunger Free America website, in addition to other websites.
The DOE has rolled out an extensive advertising campaign to promote awareness in both English and Spanish. The campaign features branding and designs in both languages that appear in ads on subways and buses; in community, ethnic and online news outlets; and will also be displayed on the outside of the food trucks that will be providing meals at various locations. Volunteers from Hunger Free America and the Office of Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer will go door to door and hand out flyers in 10 languages to spread awareness of the program. Share Our Strength also provides support to promote meal availability throughout the City.
The DOE will continue to partner with the NYPD through the end of August to distribute meals at events throughout the City. This partnership includes serving meals at thei r Harmony Day Picnics—annual events that bring community members, including over 10,000 children, together each year. The DOE is also serving meals at Police Athletic League (PAL) PLAYSTREETS and Youth Police Academies. PLAYSTREETS is a long-running PAL initiative offered for seven weeks over the summer that provides opportunities for children ages 6-16 to engage in organized physical activities at approximately 40 public spaces, while Youth Academies are six-week programs that give kids between the ages of 10 and 16 the opportunity to train with police officers during the summer. The Youth Academies will serve meals from July 2 to August 12, Monday through Friday, and PLAYSTREETS will serve meals from July 5 to August 17, Monday through Thursday.
This year’s summer breakfast menu features whole grain bagels, New York yogurt parfaits, along with organic cereal, and seasonal fresh fruit. The summer lunch menu features our margarita and pesto pizzas, 100 percent beef hamburgers, fresh New York apples, and our green garden salad. Daily menus and location details are available on the SchoolFood app and School Food website.
“Summer Meals connects our city's youth with millions of free and healthy meals,” said Council Member Mark Treyger, Chair, City Council Committee on Education. “I applaud Chancellor Carranza for working to create more equitable opportunities for New York City's young people and advancing positive public health outcomes.”
To learn more, visit a nearby Summer Meals location or:
• Check out the SchoolFood app or visit the SchoolFood website (schoolfood.nyc.org) to access the daily menu and find a location near you.
• Call 311 or visit the 311 website: www.nyc.gov/311.
• Visit the Share Our Strength website: http://www.nokidhungry.org.
• Text “nycmeals” to 877-877
Contact: Chancellor’s Press Office (212) 374-5141