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Summer lunch program draws dozens of kids

So many kids showed up for free lunches that tables had to be set up outside of the Globe library. Photo by Adrea Ricke

The Globe Public Library is participating in the Summer Lunch Buddies program, offering food for students with limited access during the summer months when school is not in session.

The need for healthy meals for children 18 and younger does not stop when the last school bell rings and is just as important during the summer.

To address the situation, the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona Department of Health Services have teamed up for the Summer Lunch Buddies campaign to increase participation in the Summer Food Service Program.

“On day one (Monday, June 3), we ordered 50 lunches and did not have enough” Globe Library Director Adrea Ricke said. “On day 2 we ordered 60 lunches and did not have enough. We even had to overflow to allow kids to eat inside the library because we ran out of space outside.”

On day three (June 5), Ricke ordered 75 lunches and we finally had enough. This is our third year participating in the program.

According to AZ Health Zone, during the school year in Arizona nearly 650,000 meals are served at schools each day. Last summer, 16,000 meals were served each day at schools and other community sites by the Summer Food Service Program.

The program provides healthy meals and fun activities to children 18 years and younger at approved sites around the state.

The sites are operated by schools, nonprofit agencies or local governments. There is no cost and registration is not required to attend.

This is the third year the Globe Public Library has participated in the program.

Locations are as follows:

  • Breakfast at Destiny School, located at 798 Prickly Pear Dr., Globe, through June 28 from 7:45 to 8:20 a.m.
  • Lunch at the Globe Public Library, located at 339 S. Broad St., Globe, through July 26 from noon to 1 p.m.
  • Lunch at the Cobre Valley Youth Club, located at 1435 Hagen Rd., Globe, through July 26 from noon to 1 p.m.

The program is open to kids 18 years and younger. All meals must be eaten onsite. There is no cost to the program and no registration is required.

For information or a list of locations and times, go to www.azhealthzone.org/summerfood or text FOOD to 877-877.

Last summer, 16,000 meals were served each day at schools and other community sites by the Summer Food Service Program. Kids at Globe Library. Courtesy photo.

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