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Free summer meals offered at dozens of Milwaukee-area locations

Posted at 7:47 PM, Jun 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-25 12:20:20-04

According to Hunger Task Force, 41.2% of Milwaukee children are living in poverty and don't have enough to eat. This problem is amplified during summer months without the availability of regular school meal programs.

That's why TODAY'S TMJ4 has partnered with Hunger Task Force and Verlo Mattress on a fundraising campaign called Stop Summer Hunger.

Donations will be used to fund the Free Summer Meals program. Lunch and dinner are provided Monday through Friday at more than 150 Milwaukee-area locations including Reiske Park at 24th & Lapham.

Reiske Park Events
Free Summer events at Reiske Park in Milwaukee.

"They always give a really good serving of vegetables," said Natalie Toro, who takes her son Isaiah to the park for the meals. "They make sure they give you your milk, your juice, your water and stuff like that."

Toro plans to bring her son every day, all summer.

"I know I don't have to plan around lunch or anything like that because you guys are going to have something healthy and ready-made for us," she said.

Free Summer Meals program
Free summer meals offered two times a day at Reiske Park in Milwaukee.

She added that this program is so much more than just a free meal in the park.

"Since seeing you guys in the park, the park is clean, said Toro. "The kids take part in cleaning up the park. They take part in helping clear the meals and everything so it's really awesome because I think it's not just beneficial to the children, it's beneficial to the park as a whole."

It's a program bringing the community together to make sure nobody's stomach rumbles because they have nothing to eat.

"People seldom want to help without having something given to them, and I'm really grateful because you guys are selfless enough to make sure that other people's children eat."

For information about where the Free Summer Meals program is offered call 2-1-1.

To donate to the program click here.