3 days ago
Free summer meals available for Colorado children aged 18 and younger
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — On Tuesday, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) announced that 635 summer meal sites are open throughout Colorado to provide free meals to children aged 18 and younger. Out of those 635 locations, 16 are open in Grand Junction.
In Grand Junction, these locations include: Chipeta Elementary School, Dos Rios Elementary School, Pear Park Elementary School, Pomona Elementary School, Tope Elementary School, Bookcliff Middle School, Orchard Mesa Middle School, Grand Junction High School, CMU Tech, Candlewood Park, Clifton Community Center, Dual Immersion Academy School, EUREKA! Science Museum, Kimwood Park, Lincoln Park and Mesa Avenue Park.
Parents, families and community members can learn more about locations and hours at
No registration, identification, or proof of income or enrollment is required to access summer meals. All meals served meet USDA nutrition guidelines.
The Colorado Department of Education's School Nutrition Unit, in partnership with community-based program sponsors, runs the Summer Meal Program and provided over 1.9 million meals to Colorado youth last year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds the program.
CDE is currently working with 82 community organizations to run the 635 meal sites across the state. In rural areas, a to-go or delivery option for meals may be offered. Local schools, nonprofits, government agencies, camps, faith- or community-based organizations can join the program to provide new meal sites at any time throughout the summer.
'Many Colorado children rely on their schools for access to food, and our Summer Meals Program provides a critical resource for children and families during the summer months. We are grateful to our 83 community partners for stepping up to serve them,' said Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova.
In addition to the Summer Meals Program, children and teens can get free meals over the summer through the Lunch Lizard. The mobile summer food program operates across Mesa County and served its first set of children on Monday in Fruita.
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