Nutritional Development Services Sponsors Summer Meals Program And Partners With 300 Sites Across The Philadelphia Region

The NDS Summer Meals Program runs June 21 through August 26.

Nutritional Development Services (NDS), an agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is once again sponsoring federally funded summer meals for children through the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) this year. This program ensures that students 18 years and younger throughout the Greater Philadelphia area have access to free and healthy meals in the summer months when school is not in session.

This summer, NDS is partnering with approximately 300 sites serving children and youth to put this critically important initiative into motion. It fills the meal gap for many low-income students and families who would otherwise struggle to obtain balanced nutrition following the conclusion of the academic year.

NDS will also offer participating sites the opportunity to add “Operation Kindness” to its services. This NDS program provides summer meal sites with activities to encourage children and youth to think and act with kindness.

“NDS is pleased to be working with many community partners this year. The summer meal program is an important supplement to summer activities so children can access healthy meals while enjoying time out of school,” said Ms. Lizanne Hagedorn, Executive Director of NDS.

All summer meals provided by NDS are delivered each day ready to eat with no on site preparation required. Summer meal sites provide breakfast and lunch. All meals meet federal nutrition standards and include servings of grains, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and milk.

NDS’ Summer Meals Program operates in various settings across the region including schools, community centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, children’s hospitals, and churches. In addition, NDS’ program operates in non-traditional settings such as libraries, apartment buildings, Family Service Centers, and more.

For a map of 2022 summer meal sites supported by NDS, please visit here.

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Editor’s Note: To sign up for the Summer Meals Program with NDS, please call the Summer Meals Hotline at 215-895-3470 option 1.

For more information about Nutritional Development Services, please visit http://nutritionaldevelopmentservices.org/.