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Date: 7/11/2022
BELCHERTOWN – As part of Belchertown’s Summer Eats program through Project Bread, Congressman Jim McGovern visited the July 7 meal pick up to discuss the importance of programs that help children get the food they need.
According to Belchertown Public Schools’ (BPS) website, through the Summer Eats program children under 18 years of age are able to receive free meals through the Summer Food Service program, which is both federally funded and state administered. Regardless of household income or any other restrictions children can pick up meals, even if they do not attend Belchertown Public Schools.
With concerns around inflation and high food prices, McGovern said free meal programs are essential.
“For people who are struggling, especially during a time of high food prices, programs like this are a godsend. I believe food is a fundamental human right and I believe that the meals that children get in schools are every bit as important to their ability to learn as a textbook or a laptop,” he said.
Due to flexibilities created in response to COVID-19, more children were given access to free meals through schools.
“There were income requirements, children had to eat their meals in person here and we’ve waived all that,” McGovern said. “It’s more convenient and user-friendly; a parent or guardian can pick up a meal and bring it home to their child.”
McGovern added that he hopes free meal programs continue throughout the whole school year, including the summer.
“I want this to be permanent. I think we ought to have universal free summer meal programs like this for all children all the time every year. I also believe that we ought to now move toward universal free school meals,” he said. “Congress just extended the universal free summer meals program for the summer, we kept the flexibilities in place, I hear participation is up, parents are happy, so we need to continue to build on it.”
Project Bread CEO Erin McAleer said its Summer Eats program spans about 1,000 sites in Massachusetts.
“Our goal in partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is to make sure there’s meal sites like this where children are – like here. It’s a hot summer day, making sure they are at camp, making sure they have pools, playgrounds or libraries,” she said.
McAleer said Project Bread is willing to work with anyone who wants to provide meals to children.
“We really partner with any organization that’s willing to provide this program and we support them in figuring out how to do it, whether it’s the equipment they need or figuring out what it’s going to take to be financially viable, the promotion of it, any partner in the state that wants to provide a meal site, we help them,” she said.
She also detailed how Project Bread helped BPS get its Summer Eats program off the ground.
“We gave them a grant which helped them hire a coordinator to do all of this, we gave them the promotional material, so they are able to put up the bright yellow signage and the tent so families know where to go, we give them a social media toolkit, so any support they need in running the program,” McAleer said.
McAleer added that one of the goals of the program is to make sure children have access to food year-round, even if they are not at school.
“We know that throughout the [coronavirus] pandemic school meals have been the number one source of free food for families with kids in Massachusetts. During the school year breakfast and lunch can account for over half a child’s daily calories, then summer happens, and we want to make sure that families who relied on free meals during the school year have places to go in the summer,” she said.
Superintendent of Schools Brian Cameron commended Food Service Director Barrett Grazioso’s work on the program.
“It’s priceless and it really encourages families to get a meal. Barrett has done an outstanding job,” he said.
Belchertown’s Summer Eats program continues through Aug. 12 and meals are available for pick up between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on weekdays at Chestnut Hill Community School located at 59 State St.