Miami-Dade County launches mobile delivery of free summer food for kids

Florida Impact, Sisters for Abundant Living and Miami-Dade Public Housing and Community Development to host a site visit highlighting Summer Food Program with new mobile route

(MIAMI, June 19, 2015) -  Food is on the move in Miami-Dade County this summer. An innovative collaborative of Miami-Dade County Public Housing & Community Development, Sisters for Abundant Living, Florida Impact and other community partners will announce the launch of a new mobile meals pilot program by providing site visits where kids can get free, nutritious meals while school is out. The “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind” Mobile Unit is operated by Sisters for Abundant Living, a Summer BreakSpot sponsor and year-round youth development organization in Miami-Dade.

On Monday, June 22nd at Gwen Cherry Apartments in Allapattah, community leaders will be visiting one of the new mobile delivery sites, kicking off this year’s Summer BreakSpot — the state’s summer food program for children 18 and younger funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Launching this year, the mobile program in Miami-Dade will run a food delivery route to include 5 locations in the Allapattah and Liberty City areas, including stops at Gwen Cherry, Little River Terrace and Annie Coleman Apartments. Mobile units ensure children who have transportation or safety obstacles in these underserved areas have access to food closer to where they live. From June 8 through August 21, the Healthy Body, Healthy Mind mobile units will deliver afternoon meals Monday through Friday. A similar Summer BreakSpot mobile pilot program starts its second year in Broward County, and many other counties throughout Florida have also implemented similar models.

Last summer in Miami-Dade County, Summer BreakSpot served 2.5 million meals to approximately 28,000 children, which only accounts for 14.5 percent of Miami-Dade students that participated in free and reduced lunch.

Statewide in 2014, 13.5 million meals were served to an average of 300,000 children daily. The program has seen a 21 percent increase in meals served since 2012. With more than 1.8 million children in Florida public schools eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, organizations partnering through Summer BreakSpot are working together to ensure kids don’t go hungry over the summer. 

On June 22nd, Representatives from Florida Impact, Sisters for Abundant Living, and Miami Dade Public Housing & Community Development will be on hand to answer questions about Summer BreakSpot and additional programs that ensure Miami-Dade County children have a happy, healthy, enriching summer.

For more information on Summer BreakSpot, call 211, text “FOODFL” to 877877, download the “Nutrislice” smartphone app or visit www.SummerFoodFlorida.org.

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It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The meeting facility is accessible. For sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or materials in accessible format please call 305-375-1357 at least five days in advance.