The Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh announced last week the opening of applications for mini-grants, available for community partners interested in creating summer meal sites through Boston Eats, a program that provides free meals to youth ages 18 and under across the City of Boston. These meals are available on a first-come-first-serve basis, with no identification or registration required for youth, and the sites provide a safe space for them to engage with their peers when school is not in session, connecting families with other resources in the neighborhoods.
“The ability to access healthy meal options is directly linked to a young person’s health and success. I am encouraged by the strong partnerships we have made to address the summer meal gap, and connect our youth to easily accessible and healthy meal options as they transition into a new school year.”
—Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
The program aims to increase community participation through these mini-grants, distributed by partners who will create non-traditional summer meals sites in 30 different locations across Boston. The grants are made possible through a partnership between OFA, Project Bread‘s Child Nutrition Outreach Program, and the YMCA of Greater Boston, and by funding provided through the Boston Children’s Hospital‘s Collaboration for Community Health.
“Our partnership with Children’s Hospital will enhance our Boston Eats program and feed more youth when meal options may be limited. I’m proud of the work carried out by the Mayor’s Office of Food Access to further reduce barriers in accessing healthy meal opportunities so Boston youth have access to reliable and healthy food options year-round.”
—Marty Martinez, Chief of Health and Human Services of the City of Boston.
In 2017, OFA and its partners piloted an open meal site initiative at Boston City Hall and Mattapan Public Library, through which nearly 3,000 meals were served. The following year, the program expanded to more Boston Public Library branches, municipal buildings, farmers markets, and Boston Housing Authority locations. These sites served a combined total of nearly 19,000 meals to youth in the City of Boston. The success of the program displayed a significant need for the Boston Eats program.
Those organizations who wish to participate in this project must apply by Friday, April 5th 2019 using this form.
