news release

Stay for a meal – or grab-n-go. This summer, Treasure Coast Food Bank will be providing summer meals for kids in both formats, and it’s seeking partners who can help.

For several years, Treasure Coast Food Bank has worked with partners across Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties to provide meals to children during summer when school cafeterias are closed. This year, the program will include the option to provide them “grab-n-go” style meals, opening the opportunity for more partners to participate.

Each year, Treasure Coast Food Bank partners with organizations like social service agencies, churches and summer camps that feed children at their sites during summer. This year, other organizations that might not offer a summer program or have enough space for sit-down meals will be able to participate as well.

“This change will allow us to bring on partners who may have the desire to help, but not have room for kids to eat at their location,” said Judith Cruz, President and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank. “It also will help families who might have a parent working remotely at home or who feel more comfortable with their children eating meals at home.”

Treasure Coast Food Bank provides all the meals to partner locations at no charge. The nutritious food is made daily, and typically includes fresh-made sandwiches and wraps, salads, and fresh cut fruits and vegetables.

To become a Summer Meals site, you must:

·         Complete Treasure Coast Food Bank’s online training

·         Provide a sheltered, supervised area for eating or a grab-n-go style distribution

·         Use social distancing measures

·         Serve meals to children

·         Supervise meal service

·         Keep daily records of meals served

For more information, visit www.stophunger.org/sfsp or contact Program Coordinator Jade Alexander at 561-771-6213 or ealexander@tcfoodbank.org.

ABOUT TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK
Treasure Coast Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization on Florida’s Treasure Coast, providing the community each year with millions of meals valued at more than $50 million through robust programs and in partnership with 400 charitable organizations in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. In addition to emergency food distribution, Treasure Coast Food Bank operates a full roster of direct service programs that not only solve the immediate problem of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security, better health outcomes, and self-sufficiency. Treasure Coast Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. For more information on Treasure Coast Food Bank, call 772.489.3034, log on to stophunger.org, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/tcfoodbank, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tcfoodbank.