STUART, Fla. — As food banks up and down the Treasure Coast have been challenged by the surge in demand for services due to COVID-19, some relief may now be here in the form of a seasonal program. The Treasure Coast Food Bank's Summer Meals program has begun.
The program provides freshly made breakfast, lunch and snacks for children in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties. All children under the age of 18 are eligible to receive meals, which are provided free of cost.
"With many people continuing to struggle with the loss of jobs and income in the wake of COVID-19, the Summer Meals program is especially vital this year," said Judith Cruz, president and CEO of the Treasure Coast Food Bank.
Food distribution tends to take place at community centers and faith-based organizations. Each meal pickup offers two of three meal choices between breakfast, lunch and a healthy snack. Meals include freshly made sandwiches and wraps, hand-made salads, freshly cut fruits and vegetables. They are prepared at the Food Bank's production kitchen and delivered the same day to distribution centers across the four county area.
Treasure Coast Food Bank, the area's only food bank and largest hunger relief organization, provides millions of meals each year to needy families, in partnership with 400 charitable organizations on the Treasure Coast. If you're interested in learning more about the Food Bank, you can visit their website here to learn how you can help. The Summer Meals program runs through Aug. 7.
