New Program Helps Parents Find Free Lunches for Kids
A new program makes it easy for Georgia parents to find places where they can get a free summer meal for their children. The initiative uses technology to make the process easier. The program is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Food Bank Association, and national nonprofit Share our Strength. Georgia Food Bank Association executive director Danah Craft says it starts with a text message.
“Parents can text the word ‘FoodGA’ to 877-877 and put in their location and the system will send them three of the summer meal sites that are closest to them,” Craft explains.
Parents can also call 211 to find locations. Meals are free to children 18 years of age and younger. And Craft says parents shouldn’t worry about contents.
“It’s a USDA program so there are very rigid rules about the nutrition content of the meals,” Craft says, “So parents know that their kids are getting a good, healthy meal.”
Almost 60% of students in Georgia’s public schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The USDA says nationally, just 15% of eligible children participate in summer meal programs.
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