UWNEMN’s Meet Up and Chow Down program expands to International Falls
Free summer lunch Monday-Thursday for children
United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s free summer lunch program, Meet Up and Chow Down, has expanded to International Falls.
The program, made free to local children with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), will begin Monday June 9th at Backus Community Center.
Bag lunches will be prepared and distributed by Backus with help from local volunteers. Lunch will be available to all local children ages 1-18 from 12 pm to 1 pm Monday through Thursday each week through August 28. Summer Buddy Backpacks – bags with food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that children can take home for the weekend – will be available every Thursday thanks to support from the Christopher and Sheila Jones Foundation.
Meet Up and Chow Down is the only program of its kind to receive SFSP funding; all other SFSP partners operate from one kitchen and one site.
Backus formerly operated the SFSP program independently. Backus Executive Director Lois Lundin said continuing to serve summer lunch to youth is a welcomed and natural service activity for the organization.
To learn more, visit: www.unitedwaynemn.org/meet-up-chow-down or contact UWNEMN Volunteer and Engagement Coordinator Emily Unhjem at 218-215-2425 or emily@unitedwaynemn.org.
UWNEMN first piloted its Meet Up and Chow Down program in 2016 in Chisholm. It has expanded significantly, operating in 14 communities this summer:
- Babbitt City Park
- Biwabik City Park
- Chisholm Kiwanis Park
- Cook Public Library
- Hibbing Bennett Park
- Hibbing HRA Playground
- Hoyt Lakes Public Library
- International Falls – Backus Community Center
- Keewatin City Park
- Mountain Iron Public Library
- Nashwauk Rec Center
- Virginia AEOA
- Virginia HRA
- Virginia Olcott Park
According to No Kid Hungry, only a fraction of children who need help when school is out of session are able to access the federal summer meals program, especially in rural areas where it can be difficult to get to community sites from home during the workday.
Meet Up and Chow Down lunches and Buddy Backpacks will not be served June 19 or June 30-July 4 in observance of federal holidays.