Community Development Recreation’s Summer Lunch in the Park program has  received $1,900 from a Project Bread grant.

The annual summer program is offered in 16 locations at parks, schools and  housing complexes, and serves thousands of children throughout the season.

The grant can be used for items like food storage and preparation equipment,  sports or arts and crafts equipment, books, or food — whatever is needed to  enrich the program.

“With 16 sites, supplies run out quickly,” said Grace Gerling, executive  director of Community Development Recreation. “The grant from Project Bread will  enable us to buy new park equipment for the kids, which will definitely enrich  our program and make it stronger.”

Many of the children who will take advantage of the Summer Lunch program  receive free breakfast and lunch at school during the school year. In order to  maintain health, free meals are offered in the summer through grant funding,  such as Project Bread.

The main funding for the city’s Summer Lunch program is from the United  States of Department of Agriculture, and is administered through the  Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The Lunch in the Park program begins on June 27 at the following locations:  Griffin Park, Kennedy Park, Lafayette Park, Maplewood Park, Pulaski Park, Abbott  Court, North Park,  Father Diaferio Village, Ruggles Park, Pleasant View,  and Bennie Costa. The program will run until Aug. 29.

The program will run July 9 to Aug. 6 at B.M.C. Durfee High School, July 5  to Aug. 13 at Westall School, July 9 to Aug. 6 at Kuss Middle School, July 9 to  Aug. 24 at Greene School, and July 5 to Aug. 11 at Doran School.
Free summer  lunches are served for one hour at each location. Lunch times are staggered.  Diners should check hours at each location.

The meals are free to all children ages 18 and under. No registration is  required.

Project Bread has awarded $90,000 in incentive programs that will serve 257  summer food service programs in 28 communities.