The Kern County chapters of the Boys & Girls Club, an organization of after-school programs, will be providing free lunch to kids 18 years and younger at their locations in Arvin, Lamont, and Bakersfield during the summer.
“We see firsthand the food insecurities that communities have encountered especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. With the rising cost of food through the current inflation, it is so important that we provide as many resources as possible to the children in our communities, including free healthy meals,” said Chelsea Dow, Nutrition Coordinator of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County. “We see some children missing meals and other families are faced with hunger-related hardships forcing families to make tradeoffs between buying enough groceries or paying bills. These free meals allow families that flexibility and relief they need during these challenging times.”
The locations where they are giving out free lunch are:
- Arvin’s Community Center 800 Walnut Drive, Arvin, CA 93203
- 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. from 6/3/22 – 8/2/22
- Armstrong Youth Center 801 Niles Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305
- 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. from 6/6/22 – 8/16/22
- David Head Center 10300 San Diego Street, Lamont, CA 93241
- 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. from 6/6/22 – 7/26/22
- Lamont Club 8301 Segrue Road, Lamont, CA 93241
- 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. from 6/6/22 – 7/26/22
- David Nelson Pocket Park 1511 Niles Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305
- 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. from 6/6/22 – 8/16/22
- Riverview Southern Baptist Church 410 Beardsley Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93308
- 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. from 6/6/22 – 8/16/22
- Rexland Acres Park 309 East Fairview Road, Bakersfield, CA 93307
- 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. from 6/6/22 – 8/16/22
“My boy enjoys going and it helps me in that he has food while I am working,” states Raquel Morales, mother of a third grader in Arvin. She said her son goes and picks up lunch three to four times a week, pointing out that it is extremely convenient because it is free and close by.
