Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) is partnering with Children’s Hunger Alliance to provide students age 18 and younger with free lunches and snacks this summer. This marks the 21st year CML has offered summer lunch. The free meals and snacks will be available June 6 to August 23.
CML Public Services Director Kathy Shahbodaghi says many children in the Columbus community rely on free or discounted school lunches, especially in the summer months.
“It is absolutely critical that students have access to healthy, nourishing lunches and snacks. It not only benefits the body, but the mind as well," Shahbodaghi said.
"The kids that we see, you know, they come in maybe at nine o'clock when we open, and they haven't eaten anything all day, until lunchtime. And so being able to provide that is just so important, and so needed," said Laura Batt, youth services manager at CML's
Shepard Branch.
The free meals and snacks will be available from June 6 through August 23.
