PHILADELPHIA – Fun Safe Philly Summer, a citywide initiative that connects Philadelphia youth to free and low-cost summer programming, free summer meals, and summer jobs and opportunities, kicked off its seventh summer season today at Reyburn Park in North Philadelphia.
This year’s kick-off event provided an afternoon of fun for children and families, and included a resource fair, free nutritious snacks for youth, music, activities and games. Free healthy snacks were provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation; the School District Philadelphia’s EAT.RIGHT.NOW. Program facilitated recipe demos; and SERVE Philadelphia AmeriCorps Summer VISTAs provided additional volunteer support throughout the event.
“The City of Philadelphia is proud to provide activities that encourage active, healthy lifestyles and educational opportunities as part of the Fun Safe Philly Summer and Out of School Time initiatives,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Providing these meals for our students is an important piece in ensuring that they continue to be healthy and well-nourished all year long. When children participate in the summer meals program, we get a chance to nourish their bellies and their minds. This way we can help eliminate the Summer Slide and have our kids ready to learn when they return to school in the fall. We know that when our children are provided with the necessary resources to succeed, they can achieve anything.”
Each summer, Fun Safe Philly Summer organizes several pop-up events to engage older youth during weekday evenings. Details will be posted on Fun Safe Philly Summer’s website in the coming weeks. In addition, Fun Safe Philly Summer partners with the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Playstreet program and Team First Book to bring summer reading to children receiving meals at 15-20 participating outdoor meal sites called the Playstreet Book Club.
“The Department of Parks & Recreation is proud and excited to once again partner with Fun Safe Philly Summer,” said Orlando Rendon, Deputy Commissioner for Programs, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. “Our department offers hundreds of free programs and activities to keep kids safe, busy and having fun all summer long at more than 70 public pools, more than 150 recreation centers, and a variety of ice rinks, computer labs, golf courses, basketball courts, miles of park trails and much more.”
Fun Safe Philly Summer also works alongside the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger to enhance access to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s free summer meals program, and conducts on-the-ground outreach in high need areas of the city.
“Dairy farmers work hard to produce nutritious milk for their communities,” said Marilyn Hershey, dairy farmer from Cochranville, Pa. “We are proud to support programs, like Free Summer Meals, that provide more kids access to healthy meals, including milk, all year round.”
All youth 18 and under, as well as students with disabilities 19 and older who are enrolled in a school program, are eligible to receive free summer meals. Youth and families can call the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger at 1-855-252-6325, text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877, or visit www.phillysummermeals.org to find nearby locations for free summer meals.