Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line providing free meals to kids in community

Press release

The summer program at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line is always full of fun and learning, but this year it has included something new, free meals for all kids in the community, seven days a week. While the club has always provided a free lunch and snack for its members on the days it is open, this year they have been able to send home meals for the weekend as well. This is thanks to a new rule at the USDA Summer Food Service Program, which funds the meal program.

This new USDA rule allows the Club to provide shelf-stable weekend meals that can be picked up by parents for any child under the age of 18 living in their home. The club has been providing these meals on Fridays all summer long and has seen great participation.

"The parents have been very appreciative of the program," Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line Executive Director Tim Brurud said. "It feels good to be able to address a big issue like food security during the summer."

So far this summer, the club has distributed more than 4,000 lunches and 5,000 snacks. This is more than double the number from last year when they were only able to provide meals Monday through Friday.

Even though the club's summer program ends this Friday, the community still has two chances to receive meals. This Friday, Aug. 9, parents can pick up meals for the weekend from noon to 1:30 p.m. and then Monday, Aug. 12, they can pick up meals for the entire week, Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information about the program parents are urged to contact the club at 406-265-6206, or stop by at 500 First Ave. during the above hours.