Metro Action Gears Up to Provide Free Meals to Summer Youth Programs
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Friday, May 18, 2007
Nashville, TN—The Metropolitan Action Commission (MAC) is preparing to provide free
breakfast and lunch meals to nearly 70 summer camps, community centers and academic
programs that serve youth ages 5 to 18 years old.
“The objective of the program is to provide nutritionally balanced meals for children during the
summer months when school is not in session,” said Marvin D. Cox, director of MAC
Community Programs.
Programs qualify if they are in the same area of a local school that serves children that qualify
for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Free and Reduced Lunch Program based on their
household income. The program seeks to continue to provide free meals to those children as
well as others that are served by the summer program regardless of income.
The agency will begin distributing the meals June 4 through July 27 to programs that have
applied and completed the training that is provided to each site director or designee. Last year
MAC supplied 171,661 lunches and 45,764 breakfast meals.
“We are really excited about this program because it allows summer camps and community
centers to put their resources into academic instruction and other activities for the children and
not be worried about the cost of providing meals for the children they serve,” said Cox.
The agency is still accepting applications. Local organizations such as churches, community
groups, summer school programs, camps or any other group that will serve children for any
length of time and provide some type of academic program during the summer are encouraged
to submit an application.
Organizations can submit their applications online by visiting the MAC website at
www.nashville.gov/mac. Applicants may also call 615-862-8860, Extension 131 or come by
the MAC office, located at 1624 5th Avenue North.