Annual Summer Lunch program kicks off in Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Kids in Santa Cruz County can now get free lunch this summer. La Manzana Community Resources (LMCR), a program of Community Bridges, announced that its free lunch program will begin on Monday, June 7, 2021.

Children can pick up free lunch at any of the sites in Santa Cruz and Watsonville until mid-August. The sites in Santa Cruz will open through August 6, 2021 and most of the sites in Watsonville will stay open through August 13, 2021.

Federal, state and local funding help allow the program to run throughout the summer months, but LMCR officials say approximately 20% of the cost is covered through donations. Last year, the program helped serve more than 17,000 meals.

“No child should have to worry about whether they will have enough to eat while school is out,” said Mayra Melendrez, LMCR Program Manager. “Ensuring our community’s kids have a good lunch means they can enjoy a happier, healthier, more active summer and a better start to the school year in the fall.”  

Program Coordinator for the YWCA location in Watsonville, Josefina Lopez, says communities like Watsonville are some of the most in need.

“Especially for those children who are children of farm workers, sometimes the parents are at work and the children may not have access to a lunch throughout the days," says Lopez.

Melendrez tells KION the state of California implemented waivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so children up to 18 years old can pick up a free lunch without eligibility documentation at the following sites from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. daily: 

If you're interested in making a donation to support the program you can click here and select “La Manzana Community Resource Center.” If you are interested in volunteering to help serve lunches, you can click here.