ALLENTOWN, Pa. — For Elise Gale and her 6-year-old, Peter, the Summer Food Service Program at Lehigh Valley Health Network’s 17th Street campus is a big deal.
"He just really enjoys coming out and getting a lunch like it's McDonald's or something like that,” said Gale. “He thinks it's exciting."
Peter also seemed to enjoy some of the toys and activities available at LVHN’s School of Nursing on Chew Street. His mother said for the second year the free program is helping her family in more ways than one. "While he's at school he receives a free lunch and it helps us a lot with our budgeting so money can go towards more fun things or just rent and the electricity bill,” she said.
- Health educators are supplying free summer lunches to kids in Allentown
- The program is offered through Weller Health Education
- Pick-up is at Lehigh Valley Health Network’s 17th Street campus
From the first Monday of the summer to the last Friday before school, families in Allentown can stop by the Chew Street location for a free lunch. The program is federally funded and run by health educators from Weller Health Education through LVHN. They are a health education program providing school-based programs.
"Food insecurity is such a big problem. Definitely an issue within our area."Kristen Hoben, program manager, Weller Health Education
"Food insecurity is such a big problem. Definitely, an issue within our area because the Allentown School District is 100%. The students are 100% eligible for reduced and free lunch programs. So that is actually what makes this site eligible to do the drop-in food service,” said Kristen Hoben, the program manager.
She said they hand out more than 350 meals a week between 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
"We are a drop-in site, which means there's no registration. You can come every day, you can hang out, we have games and books and lots of activities for the kids,” Hoben said, adding people are welcome to stay and eat or take their food to go.
“I come to collect for my brother's kids because he works night shift and he sleeps so I can give him a break and I pick up for him," said Seham Abdel-Karim, of Breinigsville. She said she has been picking up lunches for her nieces and nephews for the past 3 years.
"It helps them big time with meal preparation. Everything's already prepped and all they have to do is just provide for the kids," said Abdel-Karim. "It's a load off of preparing meals. It's just right there, it's convenient, it's easy, and helps financially."
Hoben said the menu includes items such as turkey sandwiches, Uncrustables, fresh fruit, snacks and drinks for children 18 and under. She said next year they hope to have enough federal funding to send food home with families over the weekends as well. “So that on Fridays families can take their backpack with some food and snacks over the weekend," she said.
The program will continue throughout the summer until students in the Allentown School District go back to school.
