June 11, 2022
Brian Ceballos
Email: bceballos@parks.lacounty.gov
Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Announces Free Summer Lunch and Snack Program
FREE Access to Nutritional Lunches and Snacks to Promote Positive Youth Development Partnered with Play and Summer Recreation Programs
LOS ANGELES – It’s Park Time, L.A. County! The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, the California Department of Education, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the Department of Public Health, will provide approximately 100,000 free snacks and lunches this summer to children at 46 county parks.
The 2022 free Summer Food Service Program will kick-off on Monday, June 13, 2022, and conclude Friday, August 5, 2022. The program runs Monday through Friday, lunch will be served between the hours of noon to 1:00 p.m. and snack will be served between the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please note that there will be no lunch and snack on June 20, 2022 and July 4, 2022. Children and youth under 18 years of age are invited to receive a nutritious lunch and snack that includes vegetables, fruits, seeds and healthy dairy products like milk, string cheese, and yogurt. This year the lunch and snack program will be in-person dine-in.
“Food insecurity can have significant negative impacts on the healthy development of children and can increase the risks for depression and other mental health conditions among adolescents,” shared Norma E. García-González, Los Angeles County Director of Parks and Recreation. “Ensuring the consistent delivery of out-of-school-time lunch and snack programs through our department’s summer recreation programs and activities will expand access to nutritious food. Access to nutritious food partnered with quality out-of-school-time activities is especially needed for many families during this time of economic stress.”
Created to help reduce the growing percentage of young people in the United States challenged by obesity or lack of consistent access to wholesome meals, the program aims to provide a healthy alternative for children when school is out for the summer.
For participating parks to qualify for the program, they must service areas within the geographical boundaries of elementary, middle or high school attendance area with at least 50% of its students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
To locate a summer lunch and snack site at an L.A. County Park near you, please visit Free Summer Lunch and Snack Program.
Free Summer Lunch and Snack is a main component of the Every Body Plays Drop In Summer Adventures program. Every Body Plays Drop In Summer Adventures is part of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation summer series which also includes Every Body Explores and Every Body Swims. To learn more about these programs or to locate a participating L.A County Park near you, please visit https://parks.lacounty.gov/summer.
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About LA County Parks and Recreation The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation manages 183 parks and operates a network of 70,079 acres of parkland, 475 sports amenities such as futsal, basketball, tennis, lawn bowling and multipurpose fields, 42 swimming pools, 15 wildlife sanctuaries, 10 nature centers that serve as a refuge for over 200 animals, 14 lakes – 3 of which are boating and swimming lakes, 5 equestrians centers, more than 210 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and the largest municipal golf system in the nation, consisting of 20 golf courses. The department also maintains four botanical centers: The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, the South Coast Botanic Garden, Descanso Gardens, and Virginia Robinson Gardens. The department also owns and operates the iconic Hollywood Bowl and John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, which are jointly managed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, providing County residents with valuable entertainment and cultural resources.