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PUTNAM — For the third year in a row, Interfaith Human Services of Putnam is making it possible for adults in need to join their children for a free and healthy meal as part of the Summer Food Service Program in Putnam.
The services’ board added $2,000 to this year’s program – funds used specifically to offer meals to the parents and guardians of children who participate in the Putnam Summer Food Program.
This year’s grant, a $500 increase over last year’s - was greatly appreciated by Barry Sbordy, Department of Food Services director for the Putnam Public School System.
“The grant has been very beneficial in a number of ways,” wrote Sbordy in a recent email. “We have been able to reach out to more children. In fact, last year, due in large part to the adult meal program, we saw child participation increase 40 percent (state goal 10 percent increase.) Obviously one of the goals of the program is to increase child participation and it certainly has done that.
Secondly, prior to allowing adults free meals, children would sit there and eat, often times picking at their food, as the adults looked on. Now that parents may eat with their children, not only has a more “family outing” type environment occurred, parents may now act as healthy eating role models as well.”
According to Sbordy, more than 2,500 breakfasts and 4,400 lunches have been served to Putnam children since the program began June 18 – up 16.6 percent from last year. More than 630 adult meals have been served, as well, up more than 58 percent.
Last year adult meals were only offered at one meal location. This year adult meals are available at all Summer Food Service Program locations – Putnam Elementary School, Putnam High School, the Putnam Public Library and Putnam Public Housing.
A great result of the success of this program in Putnam is, according to Sbordy, “End Hunger Connecticut has used our success in a fairly short period of time, as one of their models to promote the program to other communities through technical support as well as grant opportunities.”