For many children in our community, summer is the time for fun activities, spending time with friends and family, and taking a break from classroom work. Unfortunately for children who rely on free and reduced-price school meals, summer can be a difficult and stressful time. Many families struggle to cover the extra cost of food and often times must go without the nutritious meals they need.

In order to help ensure that children in our community have access to healthy meals during the summer months, Youth & Family Services is once again sponsoring the Summer Food Program. This program allows YFS to provide free breakfasts and lunches, Monday through Friday, to any children, ages 1-18.

During the summer or 2015, YFS was able to provide 32,113 free breakfasts and lunches to children in our community.

This year’s YFS Summer Food Program will be hosted at two sites in Rapid City:

• YFS Rapid City Head Start
  • 410 E. Monroe Street
  • May 25 – August 19, 2016
    • Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
    • Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Mother Butler Center
  • 231 Knollwood Drive
  • May 25 – August 26, 2016
    • Lunch Only: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Registration for this program is not required and accompanying adults may also eat for a fee of $2.50. The Summer Food Program is program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This institution is an equal opportunity provider.