GLADES COUNTY — This summer, families living in Glades County will have greater access to free, nutritious meals for children, thanks to an expansion of Glades County School District’s mobile distribution

For the second year in a row, Glades County School District is making it easier for families to get the food they need when school is out through a mobile delivery service that brings healthy meals directly to them. This summer, they are expanding to six convenient locations, including community centers and volunteer fire stations around Glades County.

“We are so excited to expand our mobile distribution to additional sites this summer,” said Mark Wilson, food service supervisor of Glades County School District. “After seeing the impact this had on our community, we knew we had to expand our reach this summer. By bringing meals directly to these accessible sites, we are able to reach more families and help them provide nutritious meals to their kids all summer long.”

In rural areas, families often face additional challenges when it comes to accessing summer meal sites. These noncongregate options and additional pick-up sites help address the barriers experienced by many families in Glades County.

“Historically, rural communities face additional barriers when it comes to accessing summer meal programs,” said Anais Rice, program associate for No Kid Hungry Florida. “We are excited to see innovations like this mobile delivery service in Glades County make an impactful difference for the families it’s serving. Every child, regardless of where they live, deserves a healthy meal all summer long.”

Glades County School District mobile distribution will operate from June 2 through Aug. 7. They are expected to serve approximately 1,600 grab-and-go meals through their 7-day meal packs, providing families with a nutritious breakfast and lunch for their kids.

Funding from No Kid Hungry Florida supported the expansion of both summer meal programs.

These expanded services are part of Florida’s Summer BreakSpot program. To find a meal site or view pickup schedules, visit SummerBreakSpot.org.