WILKES-BARRE -- A city-wide campaign in Wilkes-Barre kicked off Monday. It aims to make sure school-aged kids don’t go hungry during the summer.
Coal Street Park is one of a handful of parks around the Diamond City, plus the YMCA, that’s offering free lunches, snacks and activities for kids during the summer. It’s a sort of reunion for the counselors who run it and many of the kids who come here.
Tahisha Shannon of Wilkes-Barre works with the elderly during the school year. But over the summer, she takes time off to be with her four children and to make sure they're being fed.
"It's hard to find the means to get something into their bellies,” explained Shannon.
That's why she stopped by Coal Street Park in Wilkes-Barre for the first day of Food-n-Fun at the Park. The summer-long campaign is put on by the city, The Wilkes-Barre YMCA and the Commission on Economic Opportunity. The commission provides and delivers dozens of free lunches to parks all over Wilkes-Barre.
Organizers want to make sure kids including Destiny Shannon don't go hungry and have something to do when school is out.
“Sometimes when we're scarce of food in the house, we just wanna get out and play too, because it's hot, but we also want to get something to eat, so this is good for us," Destiny said.
There are certain restrictions, like you have to be under 18 years old, but you don't have to register to get a free lunch.
"They have a different meal every day. [Monday’s] taco salad with a fruit. Sometimes it's pizza or nachos, they're not bad, they're good for the kids, I think,” explained Devin Keiper a park attendee.
Food-n-Fun at the Park will be held every weekday at the following locations:
Coal Street Park
The Iron Triangle Playground on Hickory Street
Frances Slocum Park on Pennsylvania Boulevard
Huber Park on Stanton Street
Parsons Park on Scott Street
The YMCA on West Northampton Street
"You're giving to some kids who don't have it. Some kids only come for the food and they hang out and you'll have fun with them, you'll meet them and get to know them,” said Katie Hall a park counselor.
Food-n-Fun at the Park runs Monday until Friday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. through most of the month of August. If kids want to cool down from the heat, the splash pad at Coal Street Park is also expected to get going this week.