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Nichole Tillman, 215-888-2869; [email protected]

 

 

Find Summer Food, Fun or a Purpose at a Nearby PHA Housing Location  

Healthy Eating and Healthy Living Are as Important for Youth as ever in 2023

 

 (Philadelphia, PA – June 12, 2023) – The Philadelphia Housing Authority’s (PHA) children and those in surrounding neighborhoods will have access to healthy breakfasts and lunches as well as fun, recreational activities this summer.

“Access to good, nutritional hot meals is critical to the overall development of young people, in addition to maintaining their health,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah.  “PHA will offer free meals and free summer camps where youth can engage in educational and recreational enrichment activities. In addition, PHA again has youth entrepreneurship programs and career-readiness workshops planned to connect youth with their passions.”

The Summer Camps, which will run from July 26 to August 18 from 9 am to 3 pm, will operate Mondays – Fridays at the following 10 sites: Abbottsford Community Center, Richard Allen/Cambridge, Bartram Village, Johnson Homes, Mantua Community Center, Norris Apartments, Lucien E. Blackwell Center, Spring Garden Apartments, Wilson Park, and Vaux Big Picture High School. The camps are facilitated by the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, PHA, Dream Inc. and Mighty Writers. Camp Activities include recreational, sports, literacy, arts and crafts. Programs are free and open to PHA residents ages 5-17.

The PHA Summer Food Service Program, which will be held June 26, 2023, offers breakfasts and lunches for youth until August 18, 2023. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mondays-Fridays for breakfast and 12-2 pm for lunch. There is no charge for the meals.

The food program is offered at 10 locations: Abbottsford Community Center, Bartram Village Community Center, Hill Creek Apartments Community Center, Johnson Homes Community Center, Norris Community Center, Lucien E. Blackwell Center, Raymond Rosen Community Center, John F. Street Community Center, Spring Garden Apartments and Wilson Park Community Center.

The PHA Summer food program is open to both youth in public housing and in the community. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide partial reimbursement to PHA.

Children who do not live near a participating PHA site can still go to a neighboring site or one of sites operated by the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation, which plans to offer similar meals. Residents, including those who were formerly served at sites that are not hosting the program this summer, can go online to the USDA website at

 https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids to locate the Summer Food locations closest to them.

Residents can also look for the site nearest to them at http://www.hungercoalition.org/summermeals/map or call the coalition’s hotline at 1-855-252-MEAL. SFSP is a reimbursement-based grant program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, through Pennsylvania’s Department of Education.  The intent of this program is to provide free breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks to children 18-years-old and under. For more information about participating in PHA’s Summer Food Service Program or summer camp program, PHA residents can email [email protected] or call: 215-684-8109

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The Philadelphia Housing Authority’s mission is to open doors to affordable housing, economic opportunity and safe, sustainable communities to benefit Philadelphia residents with low incomes. Learn more at www.pha.phila.gov.