The Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc. is working with state and federal agencies to provide free, nutritious lunch to children in Methuen this summer.
All children under 18, regardless of income, can show up at GLCAC’s Head Start program, 24 Gill Ave. in Methuen, anytime between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from June 26 through Aug. 25 to receive a free meal.
“Many families who qualify for free or reduced lunch during the school year struggle to absorb the cost of an extra meal in the summer,’’ said Evelyn Friedman, GLCAC’s executive director. “This program will help make sure children in Methuen continue to have access to nutritious meals.’’
No registration is necessary. All meals meet federal nutrition requirements and will include whole grains, lean protein, fruit, vegetables and milk.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program ensures that low-income children continue to receive meals when school is not in session. This summer, the USDA expects to serve more than 200 million fee meals to children 18 years and under at sites across the country.
GLCAC chose the Head Start location so families in Methuen would have adequate access to the meal program. GLCAC’s offices in Lawrence are located in close proximity to several other summer lunch sites.
“This is an opportunity for GLCAC’s WIC and Head Start programs to work together to bring nutritious meals to children in need in the City of Methuen,” Friedman said.
GLCAC is a multi-faceted social services agency that assisted 31,702 individuals in 2016 through a range of programs including early childhood education, fuel assistance, WIC nutrition assistance, immigration services, lead poisoning prevention, child abuse prevention, English-language lessons, and consumer protection.
For more information on GLCAC’s Summer Food Services Program, please call 978-681-4960.
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, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
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: 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) mail: 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.
