Free summer meals for Philly kids

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- With summer quickly approaching, it not only means the end of the school year. For many students it marks the end of free or subsidized meals and snacks. But one group is working to keep all children from going hungry this summer.

8-year-old Jaden Anderson, who tells Action News he wants to play in the NBA, is making sure he grows up healthy and part of that is eating a nutritious meal.

On Monday, he was in the right place.

The Coalition Against Hunger kicked off a free summer meal campaign in Philadelphia and kids at Columbia North YMCA in North Philadelphia were eager to dig in.

"It makes you get stronger and healthier," 8-year-old Deayrah Ayers said.

But before the food, came the fitness.

Philadelphia Eagle John Dorenbos and some Eagles cheerleaders helped the children work up a sweat.

They also want to get the word out.

During the school year, thousands of low-income students eat free or reduced-priced meals at schools, according to the Coalition Against Hunger. But in Pennsylvania, four out of five of those students are not participating in summer meals.

"The children take a vacation, but hunger does not take a vacation," Diana Limbahcer of the USDA Chief Operating Officer said.

"105,000 children live in poverty here in Philadelphia, that is why programs like summer meals are critically important," Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Richard Negrin said.

If you are in Philadelphia and are under 18, you qualify for free snacks and meals. And there are more than 1,000 locations available in the city where children can get nutritious food all summer. No registration or ID is needed.

"So when you guys are at home in the summertime, you are away from school, and you're hungry, this is all you have to think, 'if it's free, it's me.' Then you are going to tell your friends and then - boom, now you know where to get free meals," Dorenbos told the children.

Call 855-252-MEAL to find the site nearest you.