HELENA — On Friday, representatives with the U.S. Department of Agriculture visited Helena to witness the collaborative effort between federal, state, and local partners to ensure children receive meals during the summer months.
They toured Memorial Park and the Lewis and Clark Library, two locations where Helena’s summer meal program distributes free meal bags to families with children. Each child received six meals to take home for Friday and the weekend.
This initiative is part of the national “SUN Meals to Go” program, one of the three summer nutrition programs highlighted by the USDA.
Mario Ramos, acting regional administrator for the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, praised the adaptability of the programs in addressing the diverse needs and geographical challenges faced, especially in places like Montana.
The SUN Meals program offers meals at various neighborhood sites like parks, schools, and community centers, free to all children under 18 who consume the meals on-site. The Meals to Go program, available in rural areas, allows for pickups and deliveries, ideas that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jonathon Ambarian
Helena Public Schools and Sodexo sponsor the program in Helena. Robert Worthy, the school district’s food service director, highlighted the importance of the “to go” option in the rural area, noting its positive impact on participation numbers.
Last summer, 64,000 meals were distributed in Helena, with over 20,000 already provided this year. Worthy emphasized the joy of seeing families come together to collect meals.
The Montana Office of Public Instruction reported serving over 950,000 meals statewide last year, marking a 27% increase from 2022, across more than 250 sites.
For further information and to locate meal sites, visit the USDA website.
