Meals are in while school is out, kids can receive free meals from Monterey Peninsula Unified School District during summer

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) - Families along the Monterey Peninsula have nine locations they can choose from to get their kids a free meal almost every day for the summer. The program funded by the state, allows any kid no matter their income level to eat for free.

Since the summer meals program started, Samaiyah has come with her mom and five siblings to Dr. Martin Luther King Junior School of the Arts in Seaside for lunch. The ages of her siblings range from 4 to 13 years old.

Samaiyah is a fifth grader and it's the first time she and her family are using the program since the pandemic. At such a young age, she understands the importance of this program for families like hers.

"This is for every kid who needs free food, who can come even though they don't attend the schools here.," said Samaiyah F., a student at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School of the Arts. "You get free food and enjoy your time here,"

A new study from Intuit Credit Karma finds that 27% of Americans are skipping meals because of skyrocketing food costs.

Over 20% of people who responded said they felt ashamed about their inability to afford groceries.

You can see where free meals are offered in the palm of your hand. There is an app called CA Meals for Kids that shows some locations where schools offer after-school, summer, and emergency meals on the peninsula.

"We're seeing an uptick in kids participating in our, breakfast and lunch program during the school day," Monterey Peninsula Unfied School District Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh said. "So, you know, I think it's challenging for families."

MPUSD says the food served is also local.

"Our nutrition services engage with the students to make sure that it's, things that they want to eat that they're excited about," said Diffenbaugh.

Diffenbaugh said this program is for here to support and encourage every family to take advantage of it and to at least try it out.

The program will be closed during two holidays, June 19th and July 4th.

The times and location can be found here.