Politics & Government

Grant Expands City's Summer Programs

A $50,000 grant will expand the city's play streets, food program as well as its new youth council.

Hoping to decrease the number of hungry children in Philadelphia during the summer months, the city's Parks and Recreation Department is increasing its summer food program efforts this year with a $50,000 grant from Walmart, the Walmart Foundation and the National Recreation and Parks Association. 

The grant is a part of Walmart's $25 million giving campaign that aims to fill certain gaps created when school lets out for the summer. 

Although the money cannot be used to purchase food directly, Terri Kerwawich, the recrection program director for the parks and recreation department, said the funding will provide additional supports for the summer food program and help identify centers that could benefits from the city's summer food program. 

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Last summer the program served more than 2.4 million meals, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, to city children and, Kerwawich said, adding that she is hoping to see that number rise this year.

In addition to expanding the meal program, the director said the money will also help the city improve its play streets. 

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Play streets, she said, are operated throughout the city on smaller streets that are not near a recreation center or other community facility. Play streets, that must be approved by the city, are blocked off from traffic between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to give students an opportunity to play outside without the danger of traffic. 

The donated money will go toward purchasing additional active play items such as balls and jump ropes as well as coolers that will keep the donated food cold until it is ready to be used. 

There are approximately 650 play streets throughout the city that will benefit from the funding as well as about 150 additional recreation centers, churches and daycares. 

"Last year we serviced about 812 facilities," Kerwawich said. "And we think we're going to have even more this year."

Hungry children, she continued, "is a very important issue in the city. We need to make sure that even though school is out, students are still getting healthy meals. Food is fuel, it helps with students growth and general well-being."

To help promote lifelong nutrition, some of the funds will also go toward expanding the city's youth council program that was launched this school year. 

The program organized a group of teens from different community organizations in the city to discuss good nutrition and overall wellness, Kerwawich said, adding that the group of teens would then take the discussion to their entire organization. 

"It really helps kids realize how inactive they are," she said. "How much time they really spend in front of the television."


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