Mayor Smiley Announces Opening of Summer Meal Sites and Enrichment Opportunities for Summer 2024
Providence, RI — Mayor Brett P. Smiley today joined Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Providence Public Schools Superintendent Javier Montañez, Superintendent of Providence Parks Wendy Nilsson, Director of Recreations Stephen Grace, Providence Parks Department Project Supervisor Rachel Colaiace and DoorDash Public Engagement Manager Daniela Michanie to announce that all Summer Meal Sites in Providence are officially open for the summer. Starting today and continuing through September 1, all youth 18 and under can enjoy healthy, free meals at various locations across the city. Meals are available Monday through Saturday, with only the Bucklin Park site serving meals on Saturdays. Specific times and locations are listed online.
“Ensuring our youth have access to nutritious meals during the summer is crucial for their health and development,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “I encourage all families to join us at our parks throughout the summer where our community can come together to enjoy meals and participate in enriching activities in our safe, fun-filled outdoor spaces.”
The Community Meals Program, in partnership with the Providence Parks Department and Sodexo, aims to provide free, nutritious meals to youth throughout the summer. Last year, the City served over 70,000 meals. Each day there will be two options for lunch to cater to different tastes and preferences.
Meal site times and locations may change in the event of inclement weather or extreme heat. Parents and families are encouraged to call 3-1-1 during business hours to find the nearest summer meal site or 2-1-1. On rainy days, meals will be served at all Providence Community Libraries locations.
Additionally, the City is partnering with DoorDash to provide targeted support through Community Credits gift cards totaling up to $10,000. These “Make a Dash for It” gift cards will be distributed spontaneously throughout July and August, offering even more ways for the Providence community to access meals.
“Community is at the heart of everything DoorDash does to grow and empower local economies,” said Daniela Michanie, DoorDash Manager of Public Engagement in New England. “We’re proud to be working with Mayor Smiley and the City of Providence on this ‘Make A Dash for It’ program to help the city’s efforts to expand food access and support thousands of children facing food insecurity. By providing these Community Credits, we can enable these tremendous city leaders to do more of what really matters: supporting the Providence community.”
Beyond meals, the Providence Parks Department and the Department of Recreations is offering a variety of free enrichment opportunities in city parks. The City has trained students in PlayCorp to staff city parks with interactive games and crafts. Activities include yoga, lacrosse, soccer and visits from the Zoomobile from Roger Williams Park, Rhode Island Black Storytellers and Studio Playground.
Lastly, waterparks and pools are now open for the summer and will operate from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday. For more information regarding our waterparks and pools, visit the City’s website.
More information on summer meals, recreation opportunities and park programming can be found at EatPlayLearnPVD.com.
For questions, contact the Mayor’s Center for City Services at City Hall by dialing 3-1-1.
