Share launches Summer Meals program, seeks volunteers

Share’s Summer Meals program offering free meals to kids throughout Clark County begins Monday.

“Just as learning does not end when school lets out, neither does a child’s need for good nutrition,” Becci Read-Ryan, Share’s hunger response assistant director, said in a news release. “Share’s Summer Meals program provides free meals to all children ages 18 and under so that they can get the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school.”

Families can call the Family Food Hotline 1-866-348-6479 or text “food” or “comida” to 877-877 to receive updated information about locations for free lunches for children across the state.

The program, which runs through Aug. 9, serves fresh, healthy meals at 20 locations, including apartment complexes, local schools, Police Activities League camps, Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation camps and local churches. A complete list of times and locations is available at www.sharevancouver.org/programs/share-summer-meals-program. All children are welcome to attend even if they’re not enrolled in the program.

Summer Meals relies on dozens of volunteers who prepare meals at Covington Middle School, host meal sites, deliver meals to each location and return coolers to the school. “Of particular challenge for us this year is recruiting enough volunteers to deliver meals,” Molly Evjen, director of volunteers and community resources, said in a news release.

To sign up to volunteer, contact Evjen at mevjen@sharevancouver.org or 360-952-8228. Volunteers are required to complete a background check and Share’s volunteer application, which is online at www.sharevancouver.org/volunteer/volunteer-application.