News Summary
Several school districts in North Alabama are launching a free summer meals initiative aimed at children and teens aged 18 and younger. The program, set to begin on June 3, 2024, aims to combat food insecurity and promote healthy eating during the summer months. Huntsville City Schools, along with other districts, will provide meals at designated community sites, with participation open to all families, regardless of income. The Break For A Plate Program will also increase access to nutritious meals for those in need, making a significant impact on childhood hunger in the region.
Huntsville, Alabama – Several school districts in North Alabama are launching a program to provide free summer meals to children and teens aged 18 and younger. This initiative aims to address food insecurity and promote healthy eating during the summer months when access to nutritious meals can be limited for many families. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) will kick off on June 3, 2024, and will run until June 27, 2024, offering meals from Monday to Thursday.
Huntsville City Schools is one of the districts participating in this initiative. Meals will be served at designated community sites, with Richard Showers Recreation Center providing lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Brahan Springs Splash Pad serving lunch from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Other participating school districts include Athens City Schools and Limestone County Schools. Additionally, families can locate meals from various districts through the Break For A Plate Program, which also offers meals to children and teens regardless of household income.
Program Details
The SFSP meals must be consumed on-site, and while designated serving times at community locations may vary, breakfast at summer learning school sites will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., with lunch served from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The program will be closed on June 19, 2024, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Different school districts may have distinct schedules regarding meal service days, with some operating Monday to Friday or Monday to Thursday and observing holiday closures on July 4-5.
Impact and Background
Alabama’s Break For A Plate Summer program has already made a significant impact, having served a record 3 million meals to children in 2018. The initiative is essential as a new report estimates that over 884,000 people in Alabama face food insecurity, with 23.3% of children affected. The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama further supports this cause by distributing 1.5 to 1.7 million pounds of food monthly, assisting approximately 235,000 individuals in the region.
To facilitate access for families in need, community partners, including the Community Food Bank, play a vital role in delivering food supplies. However, families should be aware that meal provision may differ among various school districts, as specific schools may only serve meals or require participation in certain programs to qualify. To address any inquiries regarding the summer feeding programs, individuals can call 256-428-6955 for the Summer Food Service Program or 334-694-4659 for the Break For A Plate Summer initiative.
Overall, the free summer meals program reflects an essential effort to combat childhood hunger and ensure that all children in North Alabama have access to nutritious meals during the summer break.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Community Volunteer Opportunities Abound in Huntsville This Summer
Additional Resources
- WAAY 31 News
- Wikipedia: Food Insecurity
- WHNT News
- Google Search: Summer Food Service Program
- Rocket City Now
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Nutrition
- AL.com Education Lab
- Google News: Alabama Summer Meal Programs
Author: STAFF HERE HUNTSVILLE WRITER
The HUNTSVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHuntsville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Huntsville, Madison County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Panoply Arts Festival, Rocket City Brewfest, and Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, plus leading businesses in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Boeing, SAIC, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBirmingham.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
