Summer 2025 school holidays are just around the corner, and US children and young people can’t wait. However, for many families this means that children will spend more time at home and therefore, the need of food assistance. The State of Texas has launched a food program through which aid will be distributed, serving free food to teens and children who need it. No registration, proof of income or any other information will be required, just go to the centers designated for it and enjoy the meal.
Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), is the administration responsible for programs and services related to rural development, animals, food, nutrition, natural resources, environment and forests. As the summer and school holidays approach, TDA in collaboration with several schools in the state of Texas have developed a food assistance program for children and youth in the state who need to make use of this aid. This initiative belongs to the Summer Food Service Program. It is not unknown to anyone that children and adolescents in the United States have problems with a varied and complete diet, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and legumes, so this programs intend to reduce that tendency.
Healthy nutrition program
Although children and teens in the state of Texas are looking forward to summer vacation, their families fear they will not be able to feed them. This is why the TDA together with several educational institutions will start a food assistance program this week. Free breakfasts and lunches will be offered to children and teens at schools in McAllen County, Dallas and Forth Word. Best of all, they won’t have to worry about unnecessary paperwork; no registration or documentation is required.The administrations have seen the need to set up this programme in order to combat the food insecurity of young people, who are usually the most affected during these long holidays.
It is already a fact that maintaining healthy nutrition among young people is a challenge, but the Texas Department of Agriculture wants to contribute in a small way. Food distribution began on Monday, June 2, in the Dallas School District for the entire summer. You will not only find this service in educational institutions, but also in community centers, which will offer meals complete with milk, grains, vegetables and fruit. Plus, you can eat it right there. If you want to consult the centres closest to you, ask for information by calling 211 or entering dallasisd.org/FCNS, for attention in Spanish.
Must knows
There are no requirements for access to the food program, but if the following points should be taken into account:
- Children and young people up to the age of 18.
- Students with disabilities up to the age of 21.
- Not required to be a district student.
- No identification required.
Which schools are participating in the programe?
From June 2 to August 6, the McAllen School District will have 58 community dining rooms available between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM. In addition to the community centres enabled for food distribution, there are several educational centres where you can go for this help:
- Arlington Heights High School.
- Carter-Riverside High School.
- Polytechnic High School.
- Manuel Jara Elementary.
- Carter Park Elementary.
If you think that you could benefit from this help or know someone who would find this information useful, do not hesitate to share it. The more people who need it can access healthy food during the summer, the better. No child or adolescent should be deprived of a healthy diet regardless of the family situation in which they find themselves.
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