Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding
Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding programs are safe places where kids can go for a ready-to-eat meal after school and during the summer. Food is provided by Community Harvest Food Bank in partnership with the USDA and Indiana Department of Education, and is prepared at partner feeding sites by volunteers and staff. This is a free meal resource open to any children and teens in need of a prepared meal, and can be used as often as needed.
Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding FAQ
Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding are available for school age kids and teens under 18 years of age and for disabled persons of any age. You do not need a referral to use the Kids Cafe or Summer Feeding programs. Simply visit one of our partner feeding sites during a scheduled distribution time.
NOTE: Federal law does not stipulate a minimum age, but the child must be enrolled in school to participate in the At-Risk After-School Meal Program. If a child turns 19 during the school year, the child may continue to participate the rest of the school year. Disabled participants must be disabled, as defined by the State, and enrolled in an institution serving a majority of persons 18 years of age and younger.
Participation in the Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding program is open to all kids in need. Please call a feeding site to find out how to participate in their meal distribution.
How:
Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding are available for school age kids and teens under 18 years of age and for disabled persons of any age. You do not need a referral to use the Kids Cafe or Summer Feeding programs. Simply visit one of our partner feeding sites list below during a scheduled distribution time.
NOTE: Federal law does not stipulate a minimum age, but the child must be enrolled in school to participate in the At-Risk After-School Meal Program. If a child turns 19 during the school year, the child may continue to participate the rest of the school year. Disabled participants must be disabled, as defined by the State, and enrolled in an institution serving a majority of persons 18 years of age and younger.
When and Where:
Weisser Park Youth Center: 802 Eckart Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46806 – Phone Number: 260.427.6780
https://www.fortwayneparks.org/facilities/youth-center-programs/weisser-center.html
Serving Times: 5:00-5:30pm Monday- Friday
*when schools are closed, they will serve from 12:00-12:30pm unless the they are also closed. Please see their website for closures.
Jennings Recreation: 1330 McMulloch St, Fort Wayne, IN 46803 – Phone Number: 260.427.6700
https://www.fortwayneparks.org/facilities/youth-center-programs/jennings-center.html
Serving Times: 5:00-5:30pm Monday- Friday
*when schools are closed, they will serve from 12:00-12:30pm unless they are also closed. Please see their website for closures.
McMillen Park Community Center: 3901 Abbot St, Fort Wayne, IN 46806 – Phone Number: 260.427.2420
https://www.fortwayneparks.org/facilities/mcmillen-park-community-center.html
Serving Times: 4:30-5:00pm Monday- Friday
*when schools are closed, they will serve from 12:00-12:30pm unless they are also closed. Please see their website for closures.
Euell A. Wilson Community Center: 1512 Oxford St, Fort Wayne, IN 46806 – Phone Number: 260.456.2917
https://www.euellwilsoncenter.org/programs
Serving Times: 3:00-4:30pm
*When schools are closed, this site is also closed. Please see their website or call for more details.
Wellspring Interfaith Social: 1316 Broadway, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 – Phone Number: 260.422.6618
http://www.wellspringinterfaith.org/youth-after-school/
Serving Times: 5:45-6:00pm
*When schools are closed, this site is also closed. Please see website or call for more details.
How: Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding are available for school age kids and teens under 18 years of age and for disabled persons of any age. You do not need a referral to use the Kids Cafe or Summer Feeding programs. Simply visit one of our partner feeding sites list below during a scheduled distribution time.
NOTE: Federal law does not stipulate a minimum age, but the child must be enrolled in school to participate in the At-Risk After-School Meal Program. If a child turns 19 during the school year, the child may continue to participate the rest of the school year. Disabled participants must be disabled, as defined by the State, and enrolled in an institution serving a majority of persons 18 years of age and younger.
When and How: More information to come May 2025!
The meal program can be used as often as needed.
Brooke Pieroth is our Kids Program Coordinator, you reach her at (260) 447-3696, Ext. 607 or at bpieroth@commnuityharvest.org with general questions or inquiry about becoming a Partner Feeding Site.
Community Harvest partners with nonprofit organizations to serve children in need through the Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding programs. Food is available at no cost and partners are responsible for meal preparation and distribution.
If you are a participant of the CACFP Kids Café Program and believe you have been discriminated against based on all the protected classes, you have a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action. Below are links to how to file a complaint and the complaint form in English and Spanish.
Civil Rights Complaint Procedure
Federal Disclosure Statement
The following percentages and dollar amounts of the total food bank costs will be financed with federal money:
- TEFAP ($273,622, 6%)
- CSFP ($49,735, 1%)
- ISDA ($30,180, <1%)
- ESFP ($85,076, 2%)
- SFSP ($7,557, <1%)
- CACFP ($96,936, 2%)
The percentage and dollar amount of the total food bank costs of the projects or programs that will be financed by nongovernmental sources is 87% ($4,408,190).
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Note: The Kids Cafe program is also known as CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program), and Summer Feeding is also known as SFSP (Summer Food Service Program), both USDA programs.
Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) which can be obtained online at: www.usda.gov/oascr, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.