Jason Marshall, 9, receives a carton of milk and a boxed lunch from Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham on Monday at the launch of the “No Kid Hungry Virginia” summer meals program. Location: The city’s new Southside Community Center at 6255 Old Warwick Road. Other officials serving meals include, from left: Richmond City Councilman Michael J. Jones, Mayor Levar M. Stoney, Virginia’s First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe and Richmond Delegate Betsy B. Carr. Anyone 18 and under is eligible for free breakfast and lunch through the U.S. Department of Agriculture-supported program without application or registration. Meals are available at 84 sites in Richmond, ranging from city recreation centers, schools and public housing offices to churches and day care centers. The goal is to ensure children receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. In past years, only 35 percent of city youths who receive free meals at school took advantage of the summer program. Mobile phones are making it simpler to find locations. Text the word FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877 and then enter a ZIP code to get information on nearby sites and times of service. Locations also are listed at www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks.
