Food That's In, When School Is Out

LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the City of Los Angeles announced at Lake Street Community Center in Historic Filipinotown Thursday that they will be partnering to provide free summer meals for children up to 18 years old as well as the disabled this summer to avoid hunger.

"Providing nutritious meals for young people has always been a priority for the LAUSD and to partner with the City of Los Angeles and its Recreation and Parks department shows the synergy between the city and our school district to ensure that young people have delicious, nutritious meals throughout the summer," said LAUSD Food Services Director David Binkle.

LAUSD's Food Services Department will be not only be serving at 317 schools sites this summer, but for the first time, it will also be supplying meals at 105 Los Angeles Recreation and Park Centers running from June 9 to August 8, 2014.  More than 520,000 students in LAUSD qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year, but many do not get enough to eat when school is out.  The Summer Food Service Program is expected to serve more than 4.5 million free nutritious meals during the two months.

"A family's income should not play a role in determining whether or not a child has access to a healthy lunch," said Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell.  "I want to thank Recreation & Parks, LA Unified School District, California Food Policy Advocates, Los Angeles Food Policy Council, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and Healthy School Food Coalition for working with my office to make this possible. Through this partnership, we are ensuring the best possible safety net that not only prevents hunger, but teaches nutrition and grows our good food economy."

The summer food program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the California Department of Education. Summer programs are located at approved sites that serve large numbers of low-income children. 

"The Summer Lunch Program ensures that children in our communities receive wholesome, nutritious meals when school is not in session.  The Department of Recreation and Parks is proud to once again be a part of such a selfless, giving, and positive program, and hopes for its continued success," said Michael A. Shull, general manager of City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. 

To learn more about Summer Food Service Program and for meal times and locations, visit LAUSD's "I'M IN" website www.iminlausd.com, a page designed to raise awareness about the District's healthy meals to fight off childhood obesity.  The public can also call 211 or LAUSD's Food Services Division at 213-241-2956.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this program is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).

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SOURCE Los Angeles Unified School District