By RayJaun Stelly, The Seattle Medium
Ensuring children and youth will receive nutritious meals throughout the summer months is a top priority for the City of Seattle, the United Way of King County, and numerous community-based organizations in Seattle. That’s why Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Seattle Human Services Department are launching the 2023 Summer Meals Program.
The Summer Food Service Program has been operational for 63 years, dating back to the late 1960s, helping fill the void of receiving meals during summer months when school is not in session. Understanding that children need nutrition throughout the year, this program helps continue that for those 18 and under.
The Human Services Department started this program on July 5 and is set to end on August 25, providing free meals and snacks at 62 sites across the city. Committing themselves to making sure no child will go hungry in the city, especially during the summer months when school meal programs are on pause.
If your child is between the ages of 1 and 18, they’re eligible for the program, and no ID, proof of residency, or application is required.
More than 18,000 children and youth in Seattle qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and 1 in 6 are food insecure. In 2021, more than 82,000 meals were served to 4,500 children who otherwise would not have a meal during the summer months.
Mayor Bruce Harrell, who recently joined the Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, said, “The Summer Meals Program is a testament to our city’s commitment to ensuring our children are well-fed and nourished, especially during the summer months. We’re not only providing meals; we’re closing the gap for kids who rely on free or reduced lunch during the school year.”
The Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger consists of a collective of city leaders throughout the United States committed to implementing and advocating for policies, community partnerships, and programs such as the summer meals program, designed to combat childhood hunger.
This alliance, formed in January 2022, aims to end child hunger and harnesses the individual and collective leadership of mayors to end childhood hunger in communities nationwide. Understanding that there is no excuse for children to go hungry but it’s still happening every day in all communities.
“This program is an important step towards our commitment to increasing accessibility and reducing the stigma around free meals. We’re ensuring that nutritious, appealing meals are within reach for our city’s youth,” says Human Services Department Director Tanya Kim.
The program is funded by local, state, and federal partners, along with private philanthropy. Making a conscious effort to fulfill the needs of children serves extreme importance considering the loss of COVID-19 programs that supported local food banks and other food security programming in our region.
United Way CEO Gordon McHenry, Jr. recognizes that the fight against hunger cannot be won alone, which is why the collaboration with the Human Services Department is important.
“We are proud to partner with the City of Seattle and community-based organizations across our region to ensure families have low-barrier access to summer food. Together, we can be a community that ends summer hunger,” McHenry expressed.
