Until July 19 the city of National City is partnering with Feeding San Diego to provide free lunches to youth 18-years-old and younger.
The program is run out of the Manuel Portillo Casa de Salud Youth Center on Harding Avenue.
“Our National City youth are on summer vacation, which means that those families who suffer from food insecurity may feel the hardship of not having two meals provided for their children,” said Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis. “So we, at the city of National City, are proud to provide free lunch meals to children, no questions asked, at Casa de Salud, in partnership with the Feeding America program.”
The lunch offers differing entrees, milk, vegetables, and fruit.
“Teriyaki bowls, burritos, pizza and chicken and waffles,” said recreation center supervisor Elyana Delgado describing some of the entrees.
“It varies, but we’ve given out 150 meals,” said Delgado.
Feeding San Diego uses a Chula Vista based caterer to assemble the lunch.
“We use a catering company, Top Notch Catering, located in Chula Vista,” said Feeding San Diego program manager Madeline Moritsch, on where the meals are prepared.
“We offer all of our services, between the ages of 1-18, the same meal, a USDA meal pattern,” said Moritsch.
Arrangements can be made for a lactose- free product.
“No peanuts or nuts are used in the recipes,” Moritsch said.
Additionally, Delgado said they are exploring the idea of offering a supper program.
Lunches are available Monday-Friday, from noon to 1 p.m. Starting on July 8 the time will be extended to 1:30 p.m. While the program is for 18-and-under, the age cap is modified for disabled youth to age 19.
For more information call: (619) 336-4290.
For more information on Feeding San Diego, their mobile pantries and all of their programs visit: https://feedingsandiego.org. Feeding San Diego’s programs include Feeding Kids, Feeding Families, and Feeding Seniors.
