Summer can be especially difficult for families in need when students do not have access to school meals.
One in eight children in Orange County is food insecure, and once the school year ends, the reliable source of nutrition provided by school campuses disappears.
Food and nutritional insecurity early in life can have negative long-term impacts on children's cognitive and socio-emotional development, hindering their productivity and economic potential into adulthood.
Second Harvest is committed to providing reliable and consistent access to nutrition for children facing food insecurity all year long. It partners with Meals on Wheels Orange County to fill the summer meal gap by providing free meals for all kids 18 years and younger at 46 sites across the county.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley – Oak View provide these meals to children and teens in the Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley areas.
The summer meal program is open to all children and teens meeting the age requirement, whether or not they are members at the participating sites.
“Providing nutritious meals [to children and teens] promotes better health and academic performance,” said Michelle Alvarez, director of Family Support Programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley – Oak View.
“The program helps foster a sense of community and support,” she added, “ensuring that children have a safe and welcoming space to gather, eat, learn and grow.”
Each meal provided by Second Harvest meets the U.S. Department of Agriculture's nutrition guidelines and includes healthy morning and afternoon snacks, as well as lunches consisting of items such as chicken wraps, fruit, milk and turkey sandwiches.
The meals are prepared and delivered to distribution sites Monday through Friday by Meals on Wheels Orange County, a trusted local nonprofit organization.
These meals will be available this summer at Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley - Oak View (6819 Oak Lane, Huntington Beach) from July 1 to August 12, Monday through Friday.
In addition, a new summer food program, SUN Bucks, helps families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer.
Each eligible child will get $120 in SUN Bucks food benefits preloaded on an EBT card for the summer. Cards will start being mailed out alphabetically this month. Most families will qualify automatically for this new resource, but some may need to apply.
For information about SUN Bucks, call the statewide hotline at 877-3289677.