WEST HAVEN, June 23, 2016 — The West Haven Public School District summer meal program will provide children with free breakfast and lunch at 14 locations across the city through a continuing partnership with national organization No Kid Hungry and statewide group End Hunger Connecticut.

The program is open to West Haven children 18 and under every week day from July 5-August 5. Kids and teens don't need to come every day to participate and they don't need to show ID or be participating in a program at the site. They can simply come to the location and eat a free meal.

Approximately 22,244 meals were served to West Haven youngsters last summer through the initiative, according to Food Services Director Meg Kingston. With 64 percent of West Haven students qualifying for free or reduced meal prices in school cafeterias this year, the summer meal program helps to meet a growing need among the city’s children.

The meals meet federal nutrition guidelines and will have milk, fruits, vegetables, grains and meat or another protein. Breakfast foods this year will include muffins, cereal, bagels, fruit and milk, while lunches will offer celery sticks, broccoli and carrots with dip, barbeque chicken, salad, sandwiches and pizza. Full menus can be found online here.

This year’s meal locations and times may differ slightly from those utilized last summer, as adjustments were based on participation.

The schedule is as follows:

Breakfast:

7:15 a.m. - Anna V. Molloy School, 255 Meloy Road

7:30 a.m. - Vertical Church, 225 Meloy Road, and Carrigan Intermediate School, 2 Tetlow Street

8 a.m. - Washington Elementary School, 369 Washington Avenue;  the WHHS hockey rink area, 1 McDonough Plaza; & Spring Heights

8:30 a.m. - Anna V. Molloy School

8:45 a.m. - Alma E. Pagels Elementary School, 26 Benham Hill Road

9 a.m. - Savin Rock Community School, 50 Park Street

9:05 a.m. - Seth G. Haley Elementary School, 146 South Street

Lunch:

10 a.m. - Anna V. Molloy School, 255 Meloy Road; & Alma E. Pagels Elementary School, 26 Benham Hill Road

10:30 a.m. - Vertical Church, 225 Meloy Road; Seth G. Haley Elementary School, 146 South Street; & Meadowbrook

11 a.m. - Forest Elementary School, 95 Burwell Street; Spring Heights; Where Angels Play (new Sandy Hook playground) Sea Bluff Beach on Ocean Avenue; & WHHS hockey rink area, 1 McDonough Plaza

11:30 a.m. - Carrigan Intermediate School, 2 Tetlow Street; Washington Elementary School, 369 Washington Avenue; & Savin Rock Community School, 50 Park Street

11:45 a.m. - Main Public Library, 300 Elm Street;

12 p.m. - Painter Park field, 190 Kelsey Avenue

Kingston added that food services staff will be at the locations rain or shine.

“We know there are families in town that are struggling financially. We can ensure that students have access to a variety of nutritious foods during school, and we feel it’s important for that to carry over into the summer so that kids have access to healthy meals even when classes are done,” Kingston said. “But this isn’t just for students in need—it’s for any West Haven children. We see kids who come most days, and we have others who come because they happen to be playing on a playground near one of our meal sites.”

Visit www.ctsummerfood.org for more information and an FAQ.