Celia Jiménez here, thinking about what kids are doing this summer now that the school year has ended. Some will relax at home while others will attend the different summer programs that school districts, libraries and other organizations are offering.
Besides offering fun activities, reading clubs, picnics, folklorico and more, several school districts such as Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and Alisal Union School District, along with Monterey County Free Libraries and Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County are offering summer meals for free for kids 18 and under.
“We can feed the siblings from ages 1 to 18 years old. It is at no cost to any of the participants,” says Irene Vargas, AUSD’s director of nutrition services, purchasing and distribution. Vargas adds summer meal programs are important, especially now with inflation and the increased cost of living.
Meals are made from scratch, and several of the dishes served by AUSD’s staff are students’ favorites, including homemade spaghetti, plant-based chili and birria. “We’re using organic herbs, cilantro, onion [and] are making fresh salsa,” Vargas says.
AUSD’s summer programs began on June 6, and while the programs have just started, Vargas says numbers have tripled compared to last year. For breakfast, as an example, they served about 20 kids a day; now numbers are between 65 to 85. For lunch, the district is serving about 200 meals daily and 300 for dinner. The participation shows how much local kids rely on these free meals not just during the school year, but also over the summer.
AUSD is working with the City of Salinas to provide breakfast and lunch on five of its campuses (Alisal also offers supper) and at several Salinas Library branches and parks. Vargas adds adults, 19 and older, can also get a meal for a modest fee ($4 for breakfast, $6 for lunch).
Dates and hours vary per location. If you are interested to learn more about Alisal Union’s summer meals, you can reach them at 753-5776.
You can also contact your nearest library or your school district to ask if they are offering a summer meal program.
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