LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Summer is officially here, and this week marks the start of the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA's Food & Fun in the Park.
"Food & Fun in the Park provides summer meals to kids who would otherwise be receiving school meals during the school year," explained Michele Schasberger, the YMCA's Healthier Communities coordinator.
Schasberger says the program has been around for about ten years. This year, new locations have been added to meet the needs of families in Luzerne County.
"And those are parks, but also there are some inside locations like the Y, and also the White Haven Community Library has a very large Food & Fun site," she added.
Every location will provide meals between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, but site attendants will be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide fun in addition to food.
"They have coloring books. They have playground balls. They have sidewalk chalk, so there's just a little bit more at those locations to really engage kids over the summer," said Schasberger.
The location at the YMCA in Wilkes-Barre offers games and other activities
"Specifically at the Y, we have esports, we have Lego robotics, and we have swim days. And the swim days are going to be on Wednesdays and Fridays; esports on Mondays, and Lego robotics on Thursdays," she added.
Activities at outdoor locations will not be provided in the rain or extreme heat. On those days, the program will only offer grab-and-go meals for people who need them while supplies last.
More details about the program and its seven locations in Luzerne County can be found by clicking here.