United Way for Clinton County is once again coordinating the Summer Food Service Program which provides free lunch and breakfast to Clinton County children 18 years and younger. There are some slight changes, with four new sites being added to the list – some being congregate sites where children will be required to sit and eat their lunch on site, and some sites will be non-congregate, where children can pick up their free breakfast and lunch and leave – a “grab and go”. Altogether there will be eleven sites.
The congregate sites are serving sit down hot meals Monday-Friday are: Clinton County Boys and Girls Club, El Camino, CORE Community Center (Early Learning and Summer Camp separately) and the TPA Park, located near Sapphire Bay at shelter house #5. Green Meadows will also serve as a congregate site for two weeks during their summer school program July 10-21. Children are required to eat on site and will not be able to take food with them.
The non-congregate “grab and go” lunch sites providing quick, sack lunches Monday-Friday are: Third Street Park, Circle Park, Stewart Manor Trailer Park, and the Neighborhood Center. We have also added two new sites that will pass out meals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday on a bus route provided by the Paul Phillippe Resource Center. Those locations are Colfax Park and Abba’s Place in Mulberry.
The non-congregate “grab and go” sites have special instructions for parents or guardians who would like to pick up food for more than one child. If the children are not present, parents or guardians must provide verification for the first sign-in. Forms of verification include: the child’s social security card, birth certificate, school verification or report card (will accept verification from schools’ app as well).
Anita Stewart, Executive Director of United Way for Clinton County is coordinating the program with the assistance of Ruth Foust of Community Schools of Frankfort. “Ruth’s knowledge of the program and USDA’s food and nutrition requirements is invaluable,” Stewart stated. “We are so thankful for Ruth and her team working through the summer months to feed the kids in our county.”
Teens and children under the age of 18 can visit any of these sites beginning May 30th to receive a free meal.
Stewart expressed, “We encourage families to follow us on Facebook @UW4ClintonCounty for summer food program updates. Locations and times are subject to change based on participation.”
This program is made possible by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the following community partners uniting to make an impact in Clinton County: United Way for Clinton County, Healthy Communities, Center Township of Clinton County, Community Schools of Frankfort, Paul Phillippe Resource Center, Duke Energy, and Frito Lay.