The Greater Fall River Re-creation program kicked-off its annual Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) at Abbott Court Park on July 1, 2013. Administered nationally by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Department of Education, the program was established to ensure that children in needy areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer months that are comparable to those served under the National School Lunch Program. Free lunches are available to children 18 years of age and younger, Monday through Friday, from Wednesday, July 1^st through August 30^th, with the exception of July 4th and 5th.  North, Griffin, Lafayette, Ruggles Parks will serve lunch from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM. Abbott Court, Kennedy, Maplewood, and Pulaski Parks will serve lunch from12 Noon to 1:00 PM. Park activities will also be provided from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lunches will also be 12:15 to 1:15pm at Father Diaferio, Pleasant View and Bennie Costa. Lunch only will be served at 11:30 at the Greene, Doran, Talbot, Kuss, Morton, Durfee and RPS schools. "We're adding a reading component where children will receive free books thanks to a variety of donations”, stated executive director Grace Gerling. Click here for the Herald News video of the event and here for the front page article. Click here to see photos from last year. For more information about the programs, contact Greater Fall River Re-Creation at 508-679-0922.

(Top row) Fall River Mayor William Flanagan greets Fall River Housing Authority summer staff Yadriel Perez, Vannara Chim and Michael Poirier before the press event, covered by Phil Sabatino of Fall River Government TV, Jo Goode of the Herald News, and Perry Long of the Neighborhood Outreach Office. (Row two. left) The Mayor asks for a show of hands to see who wanted him to stop talking so they could eat lunch. (Row two, right) Fall River School Committee member Gabe Andrade talks about the importance of the program to low-lincome families as the Mayor and Re-Creation Executive Director Grace Gerling listen. (Row three, left) Re-Creation summer staff members Joseph Moore-Costa, Zachary Roberts and Brianna Rapoza get ready to hand out the lunches. (Row three, center) Loghan Almeida, Ethan Pothof and Kiara Almeida enjoy their lunch, which included carrots and an apple along with chicken tenders and milk. (Row three, right) The Mayor hand a lunch to five-year-old Miccoli Monteiro as Ms. Gerling looks on. (Bottom row, left and center) City Councilor Dave Dennis introduces children to Kuss Middle School seventh grade teacher Sharon Puopolo, who reads a book to the children. (Bottom row, right) Fall River Housing Authority Executive Director David Sullivan thanks Ms. Puopolo for volunteering her time as School Resource Officer Marybeth Buglio listens.