EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – With summer just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about keeping our children healthy during the months that they are out of the classroom.
Since 2016, the City of East Providence Recreation Department has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide free nutritious meals for all youths and teens ages 18 and under through the Summer Meals Program.
“Now more than ever, we find families struggling to put food on the tabe and this is our effort in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to provide nourishment to our youth during summer vacation,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “I am very grateful to RIDE and the City’s Recreation staff who have managed this program for our residents annually since 2016.”
Not only does the Summer Food Program provide access to nutritious meals, but it also promotes healthy lifestyles. Serving meals at East Providence’s beautiful parks that feature athletic fields, walking paths, playgrounds and splash pads, encourages physical activity.
Last year, the summer meals program was operated at three East Providence parks, the Recreation Dept.’s summer camp, the East Providence Boys and Girls Club, the East Providence High School Baseball Camp, the Townie Sports Camp and the extended school year learning programs held at several elementary schools throughout the city.
Nearly 12,000 meals were served during the summer of 2024.
Summer 2025, meals will be served at:
Onna Moniz-John Park:
June 23 - August 22, (no meals on July 4 and August 11), 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Pierce Field playground:
June 23 - August 22, (no meals on July 4 and August 11), 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
There are no income requirements or registration. Any child under age 18 may come to eat. For more information, contact East Providence Recreation at 401-435-7511.
Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with local organizations like East Providence Recreation to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer.
For more information about the national Summer Food Service Program, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunmeals. For more information on summer feeding sites near you, including locations and serving times around the state, contact the United Way by dialing 211.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Further, the Rhode Island Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, race, color, religion, national origin or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination with the State of Rhode Island, write to the Rhode Island Department of Education, Director, Office of Equity and Access, 255 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 or call (401) 222-8979.
