Once again local school divisions are doing their part to keep children fed throughout the summer.
According to the USDA, food insecurity rises during the summer when 30 million children in the U.S. lose access to the meals they receive at school. According to the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, summer food insecurity affects more than 250,000 Virginia children. To combat that, two SUN Meals programs are offered to children in Virginia.
The annual Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids program offers meals and snacks during summer for children 18 and under. It is funded through the USDA in coordination with school divisions, including both Orange and Madison County Public Schools. Some sites opt to provide meals on-site while others opt for to-go meals.
In Orange County, children can enjoy breakfasts and lunches Monday through Thursday onsite 8-8:15 a.m. for breakfast and 11:15-11:30 a.m. for lunch at Gordon-Barbour, Lightfoot, Locust Grove and Orange Elementary Schools, Locust Grove and Prospect Heights Middle Schools and Orange County High School as well as the Taylor Education Administration Complex (TEAC) June 1-18. From June 23 to July 24, breakfast and lunch will be available Monday through Thursday at Gordon-Barbour Elementary School, Locust Grove Primary School, Orange County High School and TEAC.
In addition, families can pick-up meal kits with breakfast and lunch for Friday-Sunday Thursday, June 4, 11 and 18 12-12:15 p.m. at Gordon-Barbour, Orange, Unionville, Lightfoot and Locust Grove Elementary Schools and Locust Grove Middle School; 11:45 a.m. to noon at Orange County High School and 11:30 a.m. to noon at TEAC.
Meals-to-go kits will be distributed on a first come, first served basis June 1 – July 16 Monday and Wednesday 10:30-11 a.m. at the Gordonsville Library and 12-12:30 p.m. at the Oakbrook Terrace Apartment Complex and Tuesday and Thursday 10:30-11 a.m. at the Wilderness Library and 12-12:30 p.m. at the East Orange Ruritan Club Parking Lot near the corner of Rts. 20 and 522.
In Madison, drive-through meal distribution with seven days of breakfasts and lunches is provided for children 18 and under through the same summer nutrition program. Pickup is every Wednesday June 3 through July 29, 2-6 p.m. at Wetsel Middle School. A parent or guardian must be present to receive the meals.
Additionally, school-aged children in Virginia whose families receive SNAP, TANF, FDPIR or certain other income-based benefits are automatically enrolled to receive SUN Bucks. The program helps eligible families with the cost of groceries during summer break by providing a one-time $120 payment for eligible children via the family’s EBT card or a pre-loaded SUN Bucks card.
For more information, visit https://virginiasunbucks.com/.
