Summer Food Program

Lunch at the Library is Out of This World

The library’s mission is to be center of community life with a focus on reading, lifelong learning and public involvement. With this mission in mind, we are collaborating with La Porte Community School Corporation to nourish young minds and bodies with a Universe of Stories during the Summer Reading Program, and fill empty bellies with nutritious food that will nourish their minds and bodies with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) summer meal program.

We’re not the only library who is undertaking this type of initiative. Libraries across the country are bridging the summer food gap by supplementing summer offerings and taking a “whole-child” approach to summer by providing children with learning opportunities, healthy food, and social interaction. Librarians across the country are facilitating greater community collaboration—and restoring summer vacation’s legacy as a time for kids to look forward to.

Four Library locations qualify for the USDA summer food service program based on Free and Reduced Lunch rates and US Census data. Each of the locations will be summer food service sites on their regular days of operation. Any child age 18 and younger can receive a free meal or snack at these locations. This program will run from June 10 – July 25.

Other summer food service sites at La Porte Community Schools are: Handley, Hailmann, Kingsford Heights, La Porte High School, Lincoln, Riley. Please visit their website for more details. https://www.lpcsc.k12.in.us/foodservice/
Stats not to include in printed piece but to be used on radio or to support the need.

Did you know that 26.7% of La Porte County children age 18 and younger live in poverty? Right here in La Porte County 45.6% of the 17,741 children in grades PreK-12 receive either a free or reduced rate school lunch. 22.1% of our children are considered food insecure and 16,383 community members receive food stamps. It’s sobering to think that while the majority of children look forward to summer vacation, others dread the lack of regular meals.