Summer meal program for Milwaukee kids kicks off

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Many children in the City of Milwaukee go to bed hungry because their parents can't afford substantial meals for them during the summer, when the kids are not getting meals at school. 

Beginning Monday, June 15, a free summer lunch program started for the eighth year. 

A breakfast and lunch pack are available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., everyday at the Urban Ecology Center at Washington Park, located at 1859 N. 40th Street. 

The program is available to anyone who lives in Milwaukee, and documents aren't needed to get the meals. 

Parents can go with their children or the children can go alone. 

The center provides the meals in collaboration with the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Center for Independence. 

"With what is going on with our society today, a lot of people are out of jobs so people are looking for where they can get their next meal to feed their family. For the kids especially, I think this is a program in this neighborhood, the Washington Park neighborhood, it’s greatly needed," said Urban Ecology Center Branch Manager, Terry Evans. 

In the eight years of the program, they typically serve 35 to 40 kids per day. The last day of the program is Aug. 28.