JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Each school year, children wait for the last bell before summer break to begin enjoying playtime with friends, a week at camp, a family vacation, or time at the pool. However, for many children who receive free and reduced-price meals during the school year, summer can mean hunger.
This summer, Duval County Public Schools Food Services and their food service partner, Chartwells K12, will host more than 80 Summer BreakSpot community feeding sites in Jacksonville, beginning Monday.
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These summer feeding sites will each provide free meals to any children 18 and younger during the summer break, as part of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Meal Programs.
There are no income or registration requirements and anyone age 18 or younger may receive a free meal at any of these feeding sites.
To help supplement these stationary sites, DCPS and Chartwells will be rolling out four trucks that will each act as mobile feeding sites.
“Food trucks are a fantastic way to encourage our Duval children to take part in the free meals offered via the Summer BreakSpot program,” says Jane Zentko, director of DCPS Food Services. “Not only do they allow us to reach children in areas where the community feeding sites are not easily accessible, but they are also on-trend and exciting, which encourages older children to participate.”
The mobile feeding sites will be kicking off their summer tours on June 12 as follows:
- Sandalwood High School at the community pool from 11 a.m. – noon
- Wolfson High School at the community pool from 11 a.m. – noon
- AP Randolph Academies -- two trucks will service the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program, June 12 - 15 from 11 a.m. - noon
Following the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program, two mobile feeding sites will relocate to provide service to summer initiatives at Mandarin High School and Englewood High School, beginning June 19.
To find Summer BreakSpot locations, including the mobile feeding sites, please visit SummerFoodFlorida.org, or text “Food FL” to 877-877.
Menus, site locations, and hours for each site in Duval may also be found by visiting www.duvalschools.nutrislice.com or by downloading the free Nutrislice mobile app on any smartphone.
For more information about the Summer BreakSpot program in Duval, please contact Krishelle Hancock, Sr. Director of Marketing & Strategy, at Krishelle.Hancock@compass-usa.com or by calling 904-732-5117.