Post Date: 01/23/2018 12:00 PM

Open house at Wilmington Municipal Service Complex is intended to alert local community groups to the availability of afternoon meals for City youth

In an effort to improve the nutritional options for young people in Wilmington, Mayor Mike Purzycki and Department of Parks and Recreation Director Kevin F. Kelley, Sr., invite community organizations serving City youth to an open house entitled “Feeding Our Future” to learn more about the City’s Afterschool Food Program. The event will be held at the Wilmington Municipal Services Complex at 500 Wilmington Avenue on Friday, January 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wilmington’s Food Program, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Department of Education, has been feeding City children for more than 30 years. The Afterschool Food Program, affiliated with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), served more than 192,000 meals to 1,100 children at 34 sites in Wilmington and New Castle County over a nine-month period in 2016-17. By contrast, the 12-week Summer Food Program served 4,400 children a total of 182,000 meals at 92 sites. The City hopes to grow the entire Food Program by 20 percent in the coming year.

“We are eager to expand the reach of this important program to help improve the health and nutrition of our young people,” said Mayor Purzycki. “We want to make sure that all eligible community agencies are aware of the program and get the assistance they need to be able to provide healthy meals and snacks to the children and teens they care for.”

Parks Director Kelley said the open house is aimed at getting the word out to recreational programs, child-care facilities, after-school programs and city schools serving children and teens 18 years old and under about the availability of hot, nutritious, USDA-approved meals throughout the school year.

“We prepare and deliver all of the meals,” said Kelley. “If you provide a program for young people 18 and under and are interested in adding a food component to the services you offer, this event is an excellent opportunity for you to learn how to go about doing that,” Kelley said.

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News and information from the Office of Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki

John Rago

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications

Mobile: (302) 420-7928

Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov



Paul Ford Jr.

Communications Specialist

Mobile: (302) 530-2171

Email: plford@WilmingtonDE.gov



Dan Sanchez

Digital & Social Media Manager

Mobile: (302) 605-0026

Email: dsanchez@WilmingtonDE.gov