LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – To make sure no child goes hungry during spring break, the South Texas Food Bank (STFB) is reminding parents about a free initiative that aims to provide kids with a warm meal.
6th-grade student, Aissa Castillo, is taking some time out of her spring break to spend it at the Lamar Bruni Vergara Boys and Girls Club.
After a morning of playing sports and activities, Castillo and dozens of other children are provided with a well-balanced meal through the STFB’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Filling the Gap.
A gesture Castillo says goes a long way, mentioning, “I believe it’s very important because since they are giving food, the parents don’t have to struggle with trying to buy food for them.”
It’s not just the children at the Boys and Girls Club who get a free meal, the program is extended to 11 other community centers in Webb County, such as the Fernando Salinas Community Center.
“For this week, we are looking between 80 to 100 [people] that should be coming in through our facility,“ said the Manager of the Fernando Salinas Community Center, Linda Sanchez.
She says it’s a team effort to help provide this service to families who need it the most, adding, “We see how the families are sometimes struggling. Working together with the commissioners and the community centers, we provided those meals to the community and that’s a big help that everybody gets.”
Staff members with the STFB are responsible for cooking and prepping the meals before they are sent off to various community centers throughout Webb County for kids to eat.
During a time of mass layoffs and rising grocery prices, the STFB’s CEO, Alma Boubel, understands the importance of giving back to families in need.
“[With] the way that the economy is now, and with inflation so high, it’s difficult for some of these parents to provide. Especially when they are used to their child having breakfast, lunch and dinner. That’s why it’s important that we continue with our programs and provide a meal for the child,“ Boubel said.
To receive a free meal, families can stop by any of the participating feeding sites. No registration is needed, but a child must be present.
A full list of the feeding sites is listed below:
- Fernando Salinas Community Center, 520 Reynolds St.
- LHA- Meadow Acres, 641 Elm Lp.
- LHA- Russell Terrace, 501 Richter Dr.
- LHA- Ana Maria Lozano, 6500 Springfield Ave.
- LHA- South Laredo, 3501 Arkansas Ave.
- LVB Boys & Girls Club, 3900 Los Presidentes Ave.
- Rosemont Apartments, 5606 St. David
- Rio Grande Ranch Apt., 409 Riverhill Lp.
- El Cenizo Community Center, 3519 Cecilia Ln. El Cenizo, TX
- Rio Bravo Community Center, 1600 Orquidia Ln. Rio Bravo, TX
- EJ Salinas Community Center, 917 N Main St. Mirando, TX
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