ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Ivory Lloyd, 9, was happy to get a free lunch meal on Wednesday at Orange County Public Schools’ Academic Center for Excellence.
The district said it will be able to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to children 18 and younger as part of it’s summer meals program.
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Though this year, instead of to go meals like we saw during the pandemic, the district will be doing indoor dining instead.
“I wish that we could continue all of our services out to the students, but we go to as many locations as we know where there are children,” Lora Gilbert with OCPS Food and Nutrition Services said.
The district is providing meals at 224 locations this summer including schools, libraries, several churches, YMCA, and Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the county.
Each meal served will include fresh fruits and vegetables.
Gilbert explained six million free meals were distributed to students last summer. She expects at least a million meals will be handed out this time around.
“The summer meals are critical for many of our children’s health. Hunger does not end,” Gilbert said.
The United States Department of Agriculture through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services funds the summer meals for students each year.
Parents are able to check out all locations and serving times here.
Check out the Florida Foodie podcast. You can find every episode in the media player below: