With a gift from the WWE, North Philly kids have another option for free meals this summer
Caring People Alliance’s location at the R.W. Brown Boys & Girls Club will serve free breakfast and lunch for children this summer. It recently renovated its kitchen thanks to a $100K gift from the WWE.
With Philadelphia public schools letting out for summer break on Friday, thousands of children in the city suddenly don’t have the free and reduced-price meals they depended on throughout the year. Luckily, free meals programs are opening throughout the city, and one in North Philly aims to feed as many kids as possible.
At North Philly’s R.W. Brown Boys & Girls Club, Caring People Alliance is providing free breakfast and lunch for children all summer long with its summer food service program. The meals will be served starting Monday, June 17, from 9-10 a.m. and noon-1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
» READ MORE: Where to find free summer meals and food in Philadelphia
R.W. Brown, which is at 1701 N. Eighth St., will welcome children age 18 and under, regardless of whether they are already involved in Caring People Alliance programming. Young adults ages 19 and up with mental or physical disabilities are welcome, too.
“For us, the key point is to provide as many children in the community with healthy and nutritious meals [as possible],” said Rache Cross, a senior director with Caring People Alliance.
While Caring People Alliance has provided free summer meals in the past, this is the first year that program is open to any child in the community. Cross estimates that more than 200 children will participate throughout the summer, where they will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and meals such as chicken stir-fry, turkey chili, waffles and French toast. Vegan options will also be available.
A newly renovated kitchen and cafeteria, funded by a $100,000 gift from World Wrestling Entertainment, are making the program possible. Ahead of Wrestlemania, several WWE superstars came to R.W. Brown to unveil the new kitchen and celebrate with Caring People Alliance children and staff in April.
Cross said that Caring People Alliance’s strategy goes beyond just providing meals that help children stay nourished and healthy throughout the summer. It hopes the program can also provide the same cadence and structure to children’s summer that exist during the school year.
“I think it also adds social skills, as well,” Cross said. “They will be in an area where other children are and being able to communicate and dialogue with those children at a table.”
If you are looking for other free meal locations this summer for children or for adults, use the city’s food and meal finder tool at phila.gov/food.