Food that’s in when school is out

In 2014, Healthy Oxford Hills, a project of Stephens Memorial Hospital in conjunction with the Maine Hunger Initiative, served 5,184 free meals to kids and teens in Oxford Hills at five different summer meals sites.

The Summer Meals program is a United States Department of Agriculture program that strives to provide meals for kids in areas of high need during the hungriest months of the year, summer. Though we fed thousands of meals and reached hundreds of kids we still have more work to do. When we get down to it, we are only reaching 13 percent of kids receiving free or reduced meals during the school year in our community.

This summer the meals program is available to all kids and teens younger than the age of 18. Participants need only show up and eat the meal at the site. Meals will be served at the following locations, dates, and times. In Paris, Norway, and Oxford, Summer Meals will be provided Monday through Friday starting Monday, June 29 to Aug. 21. In Norway at The Progress Center, it’s 11:30 a.m. to noon and at Norway Lake Park is to be announced. In Paris at Moore Park it’s from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. In Oxford at The Regency, it’s 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Pismo Beach it’s 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. In West Paris meals will be available July 7 to Aug. 14 at Agnes Gray Elementary from 11:30a .m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you would like to learn more or are looking for a fun free afternoon come out to the Norway Common (corner of Deering and Main streets) for our Summer Meals kick-off on Saturday June, 27. The Fire Department is bringing its smoke house and we will have a food demonstration and much more. The kick-off will start at 11 a.m. and will end at 1 p.m. Also, if you still need to get your children signed up for the Guy E. Rowe Elementary walking school bus, you can get them registered and ask questions at the kick-off.

When it all boils down the program is about opportunity and growth. Opportunity, because it allows kids and teens a chance to engage with community volunteers and their peers. It’s an opportunity to keep their minds sharp by participating in the programming at the Summer Meals sites. But, most importantly the program gives kids and teens a free nutritious meal they need to grow healthy and strong. Especially in the United States, we shouldn’t have kids going to bed with empty stomachs.

If you would like to volunteer with the Summer Meals program, contact Ellen at Healthy Oxford Hills at 739-6222 or [email protected].

Ellen Stryffeler is an AmeriCorps Anti-Hunger & Opportunity Corps VISTA at Healthy Oxford Hills, a project of Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway.