San Juan County Partnership reported in 2021 that 21.7% of children in San Juan County experienced food insecurity, compared with 19.2% in New Mexico and 12.8% in the United States overall.
San Juan County Partnership reported in 2021 that 21.7% of children in San Juan County experienced food insecurity, compared with 19.2% in New Mexico and 12.8% in the United States overall.onset

New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department announced summer food programs for children 18 and younger on Tuesday. The program will run through July 30 this year with more than 30 locations in San Juan County.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides children with nutritious meals at more than 700 locations across the state. The locations will provide breakfast, lunch and some dinner options.

The program strives to provide free meals to help children get the nutrition they need during the absence of school. The ECECD and New Mexico Public Education Department are working to expand locations, making the program statewide. Their goal is to support the governor’s battle against hunger.

There has been a decrease in food insecurity since the start of the program; however, one in five children still experience food insecurity rates, according to San Juan County Partnership. Many of these children depend on food programs provided by schools to receive nutrition.

SJC Partnership reported in 2021 that 21.7% of children in San Juan County experienced food insecurity, compared with 19.2% in New Mexico and 12.8% in the United States overall.

“Healthy and nutritious meals are vital to the well-being and development of young children,” said ECECD Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky in a news release. “The Summer Food Program provides a stable and predictable source of meals for families during summer. With hundreds of sites all over the state, we encourage New Mexico families to seek out a program nearby to access free, ready-to-eat meals for your children.”

SJC Partnership statistics showed that in 2021, 79.1% of high school students reported they did not receive the recommended fruit and vegetable servings daily and 77.9% of San Juan County high school students reported that they did not eat breakfast during the previous week.

“Making sure that our children have what they need for success year-round is the charge for those of us in public education,” said Education Secretary Arsenio Romero. “Ensuring access to free, healthy meals all summer long is paramount among that charge. We are glad to partner with our colleagues at ECECD in delivering meals to our children.”

Meals are served on a first-come, first-served basis to all children. There is no required registration or enrollment.

For more information on participating meal sites visit summerfoodnm.org or call 1 (800) 328-2665.

Summer Food Program locations

FarmingtonFarmington Municipal Schools Central Kitchen, 305 N. Court Ave. Boys and Girls Club, 1925 Positive Way. Berg Park, 400 Scott Ave. Lee Acres Park, County Road 5500. Brookside Park, 1801 Brookside Drive. Animas Elementary, 1612 Hutton Ave. Bluffview Elementary, 1204 Camino Real. Country Club Elementary, 5300 Foothills Drive. Esperanza Elementary, 4501 Wildflower Drive. Tibbetts Middle School, 3500 Twin Peaks Blvd. Hermosa Middle School, 1500 E. 20th St.

Aztec San Juan Mobile Home Park, 305 N. Light Plant Road. Aztec Boys and Girls Club, 311 S. Ash St. Aztec First Baptist Church, 700 Navajo Ave. Florence Park, 1201 Morris Drive. Minimum Park, 200 N. Park Ave. Aztec High School, 500 E. Chaco St. Park Avenue Elementary, 507 S. Park Ave.

Bloomfield Bloomfield Boys and Girls Club, 701 S. Second St. Charlie Y. Brown 924 S. Bloomfield Blvd. Multicultural Center, 333 S. First St. Salmon Park, 301 N. Fifth St. Bloomfield High School Swimming Pool, 520 N. First St. Mesa Alta Junior High, 329 N. Bergin Lane. Central Primary, 310 W. Sycamore Ave.

Kirtland Kirtland Youth Association, 39 County Road 6500. Kirtland Elementary, 30 County Road 6446. Kirtland Middle School, 538 County Road 6100. Kirtland Central High School, 550 County Road 6100.

Shiprock Tse Bit Ai Middle School, P.O. Box 1703. Shiprock Office of Dine Youth, P.O. Box 3257. Shiprock High School, P.O. Box 3578. Eva B Stokely Elementary, P.O. Box 3568. Career Prep High School, P.O. Box 3514.