MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2018
Contact: Catarah Coleman, Public
Information Assistant
champshire@parks.lacounty.gov, (310) 965-8611 | (213) 447-0055
Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Announces 2018 Free Summer Service Program
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, the California Department of Education and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, will provide approximately 300,000 free snacks and lunches this summer to children at 50 county parks, 25 county libraries, and at Gerdes Park, Hermosillo Park and Norwalk Park in the city of Norwalk.
The summer lunch program will also take place at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church in East Los Angeles, and the Gloria Molina Community Empowerment Center in Walnut Park.
The 2018 free Summer Food Service Program will kick off on Monday, June 11, and will end Friday, Aug. 3. Lunch and snacks will be served between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Exact times vary depending on location.
Created to help reduce the growing number of young people in the United States challenged by obesity or lack of consistent access to wholesome meals, this program aims to provide a healthy alternative for children when school is out for the summer.
Monday through Friday during each week of the program, children 18-years-of-age and under are invited to receive a nutritious lunch and snack, which may include vegetables, fruits, seeds and healthy dairy products like milk, string cheese and yogurt.
Participating parks are required to service communities within the geographical boundaries of an elementary, middle or high school attendance area where at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
“The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is proud to be part of the safety net that helps ensure children do not go hungry this summer by having access to daily healthy meals while not in school,” said Department Director John Wicker. “We want young people to come to our parks, enjoy a healthy lunch and snack, and stay for all the great programs, facilities and other amenities that our parks offer to their communities.”
The public may use the California Department of Education’s (CDE) CA Meals for Kids mobile app to find the locations of California’s Summer and Afterschool Meal Programs, including the ones sponsored by the county Department of Parks and Recreation.
The CA Meals for Kids App provides the most up-to-date information about meal services available in the community. Children and families can use location-based searches to find meal sites, dates, and times. The app also allows for searches by site name, ZIP code, and city.
The CA Meals for Kids mobile app is available for free download through Apple’s App Store , Google’s Play Store , and Microsoft’s App Store Web pages. More information is available on CDE’s CA Meals for Kids Mobile Application support Web page.
For more information about the county Department of Parks and Recreation’s 2018 Summer Food Service Program, including locations, please call 310-965-8630.
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