Summer Meal Service For School-Age Children Launched By Nourish Nantucket

Nourish Nantucket is launching a new program that will provide free breakfast and lunch for school-age children on Nantucket during the summer, when the meal service provided by Nantucket Public Schools pauses.

“Finally, you've been able to help us tackle the summer meals challenge that we have constantly had. It is really difficult for us to maintain a food service option during the summer,” Nantucket Public Schools superintendent Elizabeth Hallett said. “It has been a challenge for our families and students who are food insecure, and we're so, so thankful and grateful that you have actually begun to solve the problem.”

The meals will be available during the school system’s summer vacation at Nourish Nantucket’s new food security hub on Boynton Lane. No application is required, and there are no eligibility requirements for students.

“We're really focused on feeding families, year-round families with children, and we're really excited to be partnering with the school for the student meals program,” Nourish Nantucket executive director Meg Browers said. “The point is for it to be for any student and every student, so there's no stigma attached to coming by and getting breakfast or lunch.”

Browers characterized the program, which will be entirely funded by Nourish Nantucket, as part of the food security nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to support island youth. Along the same lines, Nourish is sponsoring small pantries in each public school stocked with healthy snacks available for students who may need them.

“I really feel quite indebted to [Browers] and Nourish Nantucket,” Hallett said.