LAS VEGAS (MAY 20, 2024) — Children who rely on free and reduced-price lunch during the regular school year can continue receiving meals this summer through the “Meet Up and Eat Up” program. From Tuesday, May 21 through Friday, Aug. 9, Three Square Food Bank and its community partners will supply free, nutritious summer meals to children in need through this program, which encompasses the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Currently, families across Southern Nevada experience financial strain as reports show the state faces the second highest grocery prices in the nation, as well as high rents relative to median income. With a significant number of families struggling to pay their bills and put food on their tables, thousands of Clark County School District (CCSD) students continue to rely on free or reduced-price meals. Every summer when school ends, these kids are at risk of being food insecure. Currently, 22% of children in Southern Nevada – or one in five, which equates to 115,520– live in a food-insecure household. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Meet Up and Eat Up bridges the gap to prevent childhood hunger during the summer months.
“During the summer break, thousands of families in our community face a tough challenge: the sudden end of no-cost, dependable school meals that many struggling households rely upon. Our latest analysis reveals a troubling rise in hunger, with more than 340,000 food-insecure people in Southern Nevada,” said Beth Martino, president and CEO of Three Square. “Programs like Meet Up and Eat Up are crucial for bridging this summer gap for kids.”
According to the Food Research & Action Center, school breakfast and lunch are crucial for students' health and well-being, particularly for low-income students. Research indicates that free or reduced-price school meals not only alleviate food insecurity but also reduce obesity rates and improve health. With summer break months representing a challenging time of the year for food-insecure families with school-age children, Nevada students could benefit from continued access to nutritious meals.
Meet Up and Eat Up sites offer free, nutritious meals for children 18 years of age or younger across the valley. Locations include parks and recreation centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, libraries, day camps and apartment complexes. Three Square will also provide meals to select apartment complexes using refrigerated vans to reach kids near home. The menu includes 20 rotating meal varieties and sites may offer breakfast, lunch or both. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided on a first-come, first served basis. With the help of volunteers and partners, Three Square will pack approximately 20,000 summer meals between Monday and Friday each week during the summer.
For a comprehensive list of locations, please visit freesummerfood.org. Southern Nevada residents are also encouraged to call the Three Square Center for more information at 702.765.4030 Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
About Three Square Food Bank
A national model project inspired by Founder Eric Hilton with a grant provided by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Three Square is Southern Nevada’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization, serving Las Vegas and all of Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda and Nye counties. Since opening in 2007, Three Square has provided more than 595 million pounds of food to hundreds of thousands of people in need and earned a reputation as one of the most efficient and effective food banks in the country. Three Square is a community collaborative partnership with businesses, nonprofit agencies, food distributors, higher education institutions, the Clark County School District, governmental entities, the media and thousands of volunteers working together to support food-insecure Southern Nevadans. Last year, Three Square provided nearly 45 million pounds of food, the equivalent of more than 37 million meals, through its network of community partners. A member of the Feeding America network of food banks, Three Square remains committed to its mission of providing wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, or wants to learn more about Three Square’s vision of a community where no one is hungry, please connect at threesquare.org, Facebook (@ThreeSquareFoodBank), Instagram (@threesquarelv) and X (@threesquarelv).
###
MEDIA CONTACTS:
The Firm Public Relations & Marketing, 702.739.9933
Lauren Addante, x 225, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
KC Kappen, x 227, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Three Square Food Bank, 702.644.3663
Joe Ham, x 333, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider