Grow for Kids this Summer
This summer, the newly established Merrymeeting Food Council is looking for community members to grow and donate fruits and vegetables to the local Summer Food Service Program. Foods donated will be provided to local children throughout Topsham, Brunswick, Harpswell, Lisbon, and Richmond that have limited access to healthy foods during the summer months.
Any community members interested in supporting the local Summer Food Program are being asked to grow or provide five requested food items: Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, carrots, and eggs. These foods have been identified as favorites with the kids participating in the program in previous years.
The Summer Food Service Program is a federal program, implemented locally by Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program (MCHPP). The summer feeding program provides free lunchtime meals to children, ages 0 – 18, enrolled in summer camps and other specific sites. Many children depend on the breakfasts and lunches provided by schools as their source of daily, nutritious meals and this program ensures the children have access to nutritious meals when school is not session.
“Summer can place an extra burden on families, causing family food budgets to be strained. Healthy, nutritious meals are important all year round to help kids grow, play, and learn, and it’s even better when the food is fresh and local. We anticipate serving over 5,000 lunches this year and are excited to be starting four new meal sites in Harpswell and Topsham, for a a total of eleven sites throughout our community,” stated Ethan Minton, MCHPP Program Director
Persons interested in growing and contributing food items or interested in more information about the Merrymeeting Food Council should contact Colleen Fuller at Access Health at cfuller@midcoasthealth.com or (207) 373-6925.
About The Merrymeeting Food Council
The Merrymeeting Food Council is a collaborative effort between Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, Access Health, community members, food producers and distributors, and other organizations.
