West Suburban YMCA Providing Free Meals for Children All Summer

Jul 13, 2020

The West Suburban YMCA, in partnership with the Metrowest YMCA, is participating in Summer Eats, Massachusetts’ summer food service program. The federally funded nutrition program provides free, healthy meals to all children ages 18 and under when school is not in session. The program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with support from the Child Nutrition Outreach Program at Project Bread.

Meals are available for pick-up at the West Suburban YMCA in Newton, Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (lunch) and 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (snack) through September 4, 2020. Kids and teens ages 18 and under who wish to pick up a free lunch or snack should check in at the Y’s Welcome Center.

This is the Y’s second year participating in the program. In 2019, the Summer Eats program distributed 2,310 lunches and 4,991 snacks to youth in the community over the course of 8 weeks.

The free lunches and snacks are available to campers at the Y’s onsite day camp, Camp Pikati. Camp Pikati, as well as the off-site day camp Camp Chickami, are currently running and open for registration.  Both camps are adhering CDC, state, and local guidelines to ensure a safe and happy summer.

According to the USDA, nearly 10% of Massachusetts households experience food insecurity. This year’s COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to layoffs and reductions in hours for many Americans, has underscored the importance of programs that address food insecurity in our communities. During the school year, many families stretch their food budget by applying for free or reduced-price school meals for their children. Frequently, these families find it difficult to absorb the additional meal costs when school is not in session. The Summer Meals Program helps to fill the gap left open during the summer months for these families. When children have reliable access to food during the summer, they can return to school ready to learn. By providing free, nutritious meals throughout the summer, the SFSP ensures that every child has access to the food they need to succeed.

For more information, contact Keri Wood at keriw@wsymca.org or 617-244-6050 x3118.