Bringing healthy summer meals to Polk County children ensures that kids have a healthy vacation and return to school ready to learn.

This summer, Livingston ISD will connect children 18 and younger and enrolled students with disabilities up to 21 years old with healthy, no-cost summer meals. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition program administered in the Lone Star State by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). For the children who rely on school meals during the academic year, these meals offer a source of good nutrition when school is out for the long summer vacation.

Polk County children need good nutrition year-round so they can learn, grow, and succeed in life,” said Lillie Hopson/Food Service Secretary. “With nearly 2 million food-insecure children living in Texas, these healthy meals are vital to nourishing young Texans during the summer vacation.”

The program will start on Tuesday, May 27th. Breakfast will be served from 7:00-8:00 and lunch will be served from 11:00-12:00 both meals at Livingston High School.

Livingston ISD is one of the nonprofit organizations partnering with TDA to serve meals across Texas. Families are encouraged to use these three tools to find a meal site anywhere in the state:

• Call 2-1-1 to speak to a live operator

• Visit the Summer Food website for an interactive site locator map

• Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304

Organizations partner with TDA to serve meals in areas where more than 50 percent of children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program.

Eligible sponsoring organizations include schools, faith-based groups, nonprofit summer camps, government agencies, and other tax-exempt organizations. All meal sites must be sponsored by an organization that has a contract with TDA.

Summer meal sites help children succeed by providing the nourishment they need to return to school in the fall, ready to thrive.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.