HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2016-06-21 Summer Meals for Kids
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts:
Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer
barnett@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2734
Jennifer Montgomery, Loudoun Interfaith Relief
jmontgomery@interfaithrelief.org
Leesburg Community Kids Get Summer Breakfasts
Loudoun Interfaith Relief and Leesburg’s R.O.C.K. program partner to provide
meals for school-age children.
Leesburg, VA (June 21, 2016) – Loudoun Interfaith Relief (LIR) is committed to relieving food
insecurity in Loudoun County. During the summer months, many children do not get the
breakfasts and lunches they receive throughout the school year. LIR is partnering with the Town
of Leesburg’s R.O.C.K. (Recreation Outreach to Community Kids) program to provide breakfast
and snacks to school age children and their siblings. The program serves The Fields of Leesburg,
Evans Ridge, Heritage Square and Fort Evans neighborhoods in Leesburg.
Beginning on June 20, 2016, and running through August 18, 2016, at 9:00am four days a week,
volunteers and staff from LIR will be on site with R.O.C.K. staff providing breakfast items
including yogurt, milk, cereal, fruit, granola bars and more. On Mondays and Wednesdays,
meals will be provided at Evans Ridge and The Fields of Leesburg. On Tuesdays and Thursdays,
meals will be provided at Heritage Square and Fort Evans.
“Approximately 13,000 Loudoun students are qualified for free or reduced breakfast/lunch. We
know that during the summer, some kids experience hunger because they are missing out on
these school meals.” explained Jennifer Montgomery, executive director of Loudoun Interfaith
Relief. “At LIR, we give additional food to school aged families throughout the summer, but we
wanted to reach the kids in their neighborhoods. Partnering with R.O.C.K. is ideal becaus e they
have existing relationships with these families and understand the need. It’s really a perfect
match because we are trying to get kids to make better food choices and ROCK gets them
outside playing and having fun, which is also helping them live a healthier lifestyle.”
Loudoun County Public Schools have eight summer meal program sites where children ages 18
and under can eat breakfast and lunch for free. In Leesburg, Frederick Douglass Elementary
School, located at 510 Principal Drummond Way, will be open from June 20 through August 5
for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast will be service from 8:00am to 9:30 am and lunch from
11:30am until 1:00pm. For more information, visit www.lcpshealthycafe.org.
Loudoun residents in need of food assistance can visit Loudoun Interfaith Relief two times each
month. Loudoun’s largest food pantry, LIR served 17,000 Loudoun residents last year and
provided 1.3 million pounds of food. 43% of those served are children. For more information,
visit www.interfaithrelief.org or call 703-777-5911.
The Town of Leesburg’s R.O.C.K. program is a partnership between the Town’s Parks and
Recreation Department and the Leesburg Police Department. The goal is to provide positive
recreation and leisure experiences through after-school and summer programs. This is a free
service for youth who reside in the program neighborhoods. For more information, visit
www.leesburgva.gov/rock.
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