Free Summer Lunch Program Starts Monday

• Callaghan Park*, 225 Sudden Street, Watsonville, CA 95076. Monday-Thursday 12:20-1:20 p.m.
• City of Watsonville Neighborhood Services, 37 Davis Ave, Freedom, CA 95019 Monday-Thursday 12:10-1:10 p.m.
• La Manzana Community Resources, 521 Main Street, Watsonville, CA 95076. Monday-Thursday 12:15-1:15 p.m.
• Marinovich Park*, 118 W. 2nd Street, Watsonville, CA 95076. Monday-Thursday 12:45-1:45 p.m.
• Ramsay Park, 1301 Main Street, Watsonville, CA 95076. Monday-Wednesday & Friday 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• San Andreas, 295 San Andreas Road, Watsonville, CA 95076. Monday-Thursday 12:45-1:45 p.m. 
• YWCA, 340 E. Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076. Monday-Friday 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Stonecreek Apartments*, 300 Bree Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076. Monday-Friday TBA 

North County:

• Beach Flats, 113 Leibrandt Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Monday-Friday 12-1 p.m.
• Boys and Girls Club Santa Cruz, 543 Center St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Monday-Friday 12:00-1:00 p.m.
• Familia Center, 711 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Monday-Friday 12-1 p.m.
• Santa Cruz Teen Center, 301 Center St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Monday-Friday 12-1 p.m.
• Shoreline Middle School, 855 17th Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Monday-Friday 12-1 p.m.

Note: Callaghan and Marinovich Park sites are unconfirmed but recurring. Stonecreek Apaprtments is a new site being added this year that is pending approval from the state. 

La Manzana Community Resources, a program of Community Bridges, has been sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program in Santa Cruz County for the past 21 years. During the summer months when school is not in session, many kids miss out on a midday healthy meal. The Summer Lunch Program provides, free of charge, a complete healthy meal to these children in order to ensure that they receive the nutrition and exercise they need to develop in the healthiest possible ways. All sites will also have games and activities available for children. 

For more information, contact La Manzana Community Resources at (831) 724-2997or visit www.communitybridges.org. 

Funding for this program comes from the California Department of Education, the United States Department of Agriculture, the County of Santa Cruz, and La Manzana Community Resources, a program of Community Bridges. The nonprofit is reimbursed for about 67 percent of the costs for providing the meals, and the program is seeking donations. Individuals can also inquire with La Manzana Community Resources to volunteer to help serve food at the sites.

Families with incomes 180 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for reduced price school lunches during the school year. An annual income of $42,643 for a family of four qualifies students for reduced-price meals. Children who are part of households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are automatically eligible for free meals. 

Community Bridges is a nonprofit human services provider serving over 23,000 Santa Cruz County residents each year. Its family of programs include Beach Flats Community Center and Familia Center, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Child Development Division, La Manzana Community Resources, Elderday, Lift Line, Live Oak Family Resource Center, Meals on Wheels, Mountain Community Resources, and WIC Nutrition Program.