Carolina Public Press: Buncombe children can eat for free this summer

Here’s an excerpt from the article in Carolina Public Press:

Getting kids to eat healthy food has never been an easy task. That job is even tougher during summer break – particularly for families whose children rely on meals served up in school lunchrooms.

And while a chicken filet on a whole-grain bun with a side of cucumber slices may not wow a foodie, it may be tasty enough to help feed thousands of area children during the second year of a free meals program coordinated by Buncombe County Schools.

Slated to run from June 17 to Aug. 9, the program will offer free breakfasts, lunches and snacks at more than 35 sites across Buncombe County and the city of Asheville to any and all local children age 18 and under. But it aims to serve those most in need.

“Children who rely on reduced meals during the schools year may not have access to nutritious foods in the summer. That’s a pretty big gap in the year,” said program coordinator Mary Andreae, a Buncombe County Schools child nutrition supervisor.

Last summer – the effort’s first year in Buncombe County – organizers served more than 53,300 meals to approximately 5,000 area children. But officials anticipate an increase in demand, and Andreae said they are so far planning to prepare around 80,000 meals this summer. …

Any Asheville or Buncombe County child can receive free summer meals at these sites:

First Presbyterian Church of Swannanoa
Carver Community Center, Black Mountain
Owen Pool, Swannanoa
Hominy Valley Pool, Candler
Pole Creek Baptist Church, Candler
Trinity Baptist Church, Asheville
Deaverview Apartments, Asheville
Erwin Pool, Asheville
Woodridge Apartments, Asheville
Leicester Elementary, Leicester
North Buncombe Pool, Weaverville
Woodfin Elementary, Woodfin