WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – When school is closed for the summer, many students and families lose access to an important food source. For some children, school meals represent up to half of their daily calories.
“For kids facing hunger, summer vacation can be anything but a break,” said LeRonica Roberts, Food Gatherers Community Food Programs Coordinator. “When school is closed for the summer, millions of children who rely on school breakfast and lunch programs lose access to reliable, nutritious food.”
To support children during the summer months, Food Gatherers will maintain 23 free lunch sites in Washtenaw County from June 20 through August 19.
All children under the age of 18 are welcome, as well as people up to the age of 26 currently enrolled in a state-recognized educational program. Meals will be provided regardless of race, color, national origin, gender or disability.
“The summer dining program makes it easy for families to access meals and not worry about where their kids’ next meal is coming from,” Roberts said.
Each child present will receive a free meal, which must be consumed on site. Sites can be open or closed depending on the day, with some closed sites having restrictions.
Hunger has a detrimental impact on children growing and developing. Students who are not adequately nourished during the summer may fall behind in school or suffer long-term health consequences.
To combat this, Food Gatherers distributed 7.5 million meals last year to families in Washtenaw County, hoping to promote healthy eating throughout life. This year, they’re partnering with the Michigan Department of Education, Toyota Research and Development, the Lake Trust Foundation and the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor to make it happen. To find out more, visit Food Pickers Website.
Here are the sites for this year’s summer dining program:
Ann Arbor:
- Evergreen Apartments (mobile site), Dr., from June 27 to August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Glencoe Hills Apartments (mobile site), Dr., from June 20 to August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Beautiful city :
- Rawsonville Woods (mobile site), ., from June 20 to August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
- Van Buren Estates (mobile site), ., from June 20 to August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Lake Whitmore:
- Northfield Township Library, days and Fridays. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ypsilanti:
- Aspen Chase Apartments, ., June 27-August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
- CAN – Brick Elementary, ., June 27-August 4. From Monday to Thursday. Breakfast: 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Bishop Elementary, ., June 27-July 21. From Monday to Thursday. Breakfast: 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Lunch: 11:05 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
- Forrest Knoll, iday. Lunch: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Golfside Lake Apartments (mobile location), , June 20-August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
- Grace Fellowship Church/Sugarbrook Park, 1301 S. Harris Rd., June 20 through August 18, Monday through Thursday. Breakfast: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Hamilton Crossing, 596 S. Hamilton St., June 20-August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- KC Child Care, ., from June 20 to August 19. From Monday to Friday. Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Lincoln High School, ., June 27-July 28. From Monday to Thursday. Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Schooner Cove (mobile site), Blvd., from June 20 to August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Superior Township Community Park/Summer Playground, ., from June 20 to August 18. From Monday to Thursday. Breakfast: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Sycamore Meadows, ., from June 27 to August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- The Villas Apartments (mobile site), ., from June 20 to August 19. From Monday to Friday. Lunch: 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
- Westridge Mobile Home Park, . #285, from June 27 to August 19. Days to be determined. Lunch: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- West Willow, ., from June 20 to August 18. From Monday to Thursday. Breakfast: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Ypsilanti District Library — Michigan Ave, day. Lunch: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Ypsilanti District Library – Whittaker Rd, ., Monday through Friday. Lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Ypsilanti Township Community Centre/YMCA, 2025 E. Clark Rd., June 20-August 18. From Monday to Thursday. Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Lunch: 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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