The Greater Fall River Re-creation program kicked-off its annual Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) at Kennedy Park on July 7, 2015. 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 July 6th through August 28^th. North, Griffin, Lafayette, Turner and 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'll have game equipment like whiffle ball and soccer balls at each of the parks to be sure that children get plenty of exercise along with a healthy lunch”, stated executive director Grace Gerling. Click here for a schedule . Click here for a 3-minute video of the event that included a Kids on the Block puppet show. Click here for the Herald News article about the program. Click here to see photos and video from last year. For more information about the programs, contact Greater Fall River Re-Creation at 508-679-0922.

(Top row) Children arrive at the Lower Kennedy Park site where they each receive a meal that includes both milk and a piece of fruit. (Row two) Greater Fall River Re-CreationS summer staff member Maenisha Powell greets children accompanying Karla Otoni and Mary Francisco along with staff members Josh Jones, Jean Ramos, Brianna Rapoza, and Teala Paradise. (Row three, left and right) Brianna Rapoza helps three-year-old Julias John while five-year-old Lillian Belmore draws a picture. (Row three, center) ARC staff members Jeffrey Griffin and Libby Schap get ready to present a play about a child with Downes Syndrome. (Bottom row) Parents and children watch as the puppets act out a story and Libby engages the children in conversation about the play.