Thousand of students attending Minneapolis Public Schools are expected to take part in the free summer meals program that started Monday.
The program runs throughout the summer, offering free meals and snacks at nearly 100 locations scattered throughout the city.
"They can show up to these sites during their meal service time and they can have a free meal or snack," said Sara Eugene, the Compliance and Development Coordinator with the Minneapolis Public Schools Culinary and Wellness Department. "There's nothing needed other than to show up for families and youth. We don't need I.D. or financial information."
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Typically the summer meal program begins at the conclusion of the school year in early June. However, the school year was extended to Friday, June 24 due to the three-week-long teachers strike.
Each of the nearly 100 locations where meals are served during the summer in Minneapolis are in qualifying areas where 50 percent or more of the students qualify for free and reduced meals during the school year.
"Generally speaking the entire north side of Minneapolis qualifies because there are qualifying schools that their attendance area covers the entire north side of city, including Northeast Minneapolis," Eugene said. "It gets a little trickier in south Minneapolis because the southwest corner is a little more economically segregated. So there aren't as many locations in that area because that area doesn't qualify."
Still, students and families are encouraged to utilize the free summer meals on a daily basis. Eugene says schools benefit from giving away more meals.
"This is a reimbursable program and anytime anyone participates and receives a no cost meal, it helps the school district. The more meals we serve, the more money that can go back into the program. In a perfect world this is a self-funding program."
Minneapolis Public Schools Culinary and Wellness Services sponsored nearly 1 million meals during the 2019 summer food service program. Each site where food is served by the federal food service program requires approval by the federal and state government.
As for the program itself, MPS uses food buses and a truck to reach even more people during the summer. The food bus will serve picnic-style meals, while the food truck includes a grill to serve hot meals
Food program participants do not need to be students in Minneapolis.
"Whether you're in St. Paul and you're eating a meal from Saint Paul Public Schools, or you're in Minneapolis, or Osseo it really is beneficial to the school district. Just show up and take part. If you're at the park feel free to take advantage of that snack or stop at the food truck."
Free summer meals for kids can be found by using this mobile app.