Summer Meals Program Offers Free Meals for Kids

For most kids, summer means carefree days. But for some kids, no school means wondering where their next meal is coming from. Several local organizations are teaming up this summer to make sure kids have access to healthy and nutritious meals.

The Westonka Foodies from the Westonka School District will be hosting a Free Summer Meals program this year. Lunch meals will be provided Mondays through Thursdays from June 11 to August 16.

No registration or sign-up is required for this meal program which serves school-aged children 18 years and younger. Meals will be available on the following schedule of location and times:

MWHS: Breakfast – 8:30 to 9:30 a.m./Lunch – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (No meals June 25-July 6)

Shirley Hills Primary School: Lunch – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Start date June 18; no meals July 2-5)

WeCAN Office, 5213 Shoreline Drive in Mound: Lunch – 11 to 11:30 a.m. (No meals July 2-5)

Shoreview Apartments, 4601 Shoreline Drive in Spring Park: Lunch – 12 to 12:30 p.m. (No meals July 2-5)

Hunger Impact Partners is a non-profit organization working with the Minnesota Department of Education to promote free summer meals for kids across the state.

Hunger Impact Partners used its data-focused skills and insights to empower Summer Eats Minnesota, a new mobile phone app that came online last summer. Summer Eats Minnesota is an easy way to locate free and nutritious summer meals for kids up to age 18.

The program offers a mobile app, a texting number, and an online map locator. The website www.summereatsmn.org offers additional information.

“For the Westonka kids who rely on school meals, summer is a time of hunger. The lunches served at WeCAN can help to fill that gap and to keep kids feeling strong and healthy,” said Laura Metzger, Westonka Schools’ Director of Food and Nutrition Service. “We want the community to see the lunches served as an opportunity to visit WeCAN, receive a nutritious meal, make new friends, and support the important Summer Food Service Program provided through Westonka Public Schools.”

In addition to partnering with Westonka Schools to offer on-site lunches, WeCAN will be offering the Kids’ Food Bag Program again this summer. Families who have completed the intake process are welcome to come in to the WeCAN office at 5213 Shoreline Drive in Mound each week during the summer to get a bag of kid-friendly food for each school-aged child in their family.

For more information, contact WeCAN at 952-472-0742 and ask about the Kids’ Food Bag Program.

In addition, the Sheridan Story is a partner in the summer program by continuing to provide weekend food bags to students who utilize the summer meal program. The Sheridan Story’s sole purpose is to make sure children have the food they need to learn and grow. They focus on the weekend food gap - when children don’t have access to the meal programs at school.

“Our work is only possible through community partnerships like the ones with WeCAN and the Westonka Schools,” said Executive Director Rob Williams. “They have been great partners and we are excited to be working with them so closely on this program this summer. Together, we will have a significant impact on child hunger right here in our community.”

For more information on the Sheridan Story, contact Laura Metzger at Westonka Schools, 952-491-8084.

Families in need of additional food resources should visit the Westonka Food Shelf at 2385 Commerce Boulevard or call 952-472-5599.