Although Community Action Head Start/Early Head Start’s Summer Food Distributions events have concluded, families that utilized the sites at our McDonough and Battle Creek Head Start Centers have been referred to other available locations to help meet the nutritional needs of their children through the remainder of the summer. As noted previously, our University Head Start food distribution event has been absorbed into The Journey School’s USDA approved Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
The program will continue to provide free meals to low-income children, including participating households from Community Action’s University, Midway, Skyline, Ruth Benner, and West Side Head Start centers through the end of August. The Journey School’s SFSP food distribution event take place every Wednesday (concluding August 26) from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at 775 Lexington Parkway North. Each week, this SFSP provides a total of 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches to each child in the household, regardless of whether they are enrolled in a Head Start or Early Head Start program.
All told, Community Action provided more than 40,000 free meals to Head Start and Early Head Start children during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to food, Head Start/Early Head Start staff provided education to our kids as well as diapers, disinfectant wipes, personal hygiene items, and other basic household items, while carefully complying with the health and safety guidelines (social distancing, the wearing of masks, etc.) prescribed by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Moreover, these efforts gained notice beyond the Twin Cities as our food distribution events were featured in the National Child and Adult Food Care Program (CAFCP) Association’s June newsletter. On behalf of all of us at Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties, along with those that we are called to serve, we want to express our sincere thanks to our colleagues at Community Action Head Start/Early Head Start for hard work, meticulous planning, adaptability, and dedication to our youngest program participants and their families.
Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
