ETFB starts free summer meals for kids

TYLER – The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) kicked off its Free Summer Food Program on Tuesday afternoon, which aims to provide kids with free meals while they’re out of school for the summer.

According to our news partner KETK, the program was launched at 43 locations across East Texas and a special event was held at the Glass Recreation Center in Tyler, which was sponsored by the PepsiCo Foundation’s Food for Good. the program is expected to distribute over 100,000 meals to nearly 4,500 kids and teenagers throughout the summer and is open to anyone under 18.

“It’s so important to make sure children do not go hungry in the summer just because school is out,” said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “Here in East Texas, 1 in 4 children are food insecure so it’s up to our community to make sure we fill that meal gap when the school year ends and kids lose access to free and reduced-price meals they depend on.” Along with a meal, several East Texas locations will offer free activities for children throughout the summer.

For a complete list of locations participating in the program this summer, visit the ETFB website or call the food bank at 903-597-3663.