
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 11, 1990                   TAG: 9006110282
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MEALS PROGRAM EXPANDING

Roanoke's summer food program for needy children will be expanded from nine to 13 feeding sites this year and the number of meals will be increased by 67 percent because city officials say there is a need for it.

Officials estimate that up to 1,000 youngsters a day will be provided free breakfasts and lunches this summer.

City Manager Robert Herbert said the city expects to provide 40,000 meals to poor children this year, up from 24,000 last summer.

The federally funded program provides free meals for needy children up to age 18 during the summer. The eligibility guidelines for the summer program are similar to those for the free and reduced-priced school lunch program.

In a report to City Council, Herbert said the expansion of the program to 13 feeding sites "reflects the success of last year's program and the broad need existing for such a program."

A United Way survey estimated that 1,333 families in Roanoke have problems providing nutritionally balanced meals for their children. The families are concentrated in the Northwest and Southeast sections of the city.

The free meals will be provided for children at six public housing projects: Jamestown Place, Indian Rock Village, Hurt Park, Lincoln Terrace, Hunt Manor and Bluestone Park.

They will also be offered at the YMCA Family Life Center, Total Action Against Poverty's Academic Summer School, Fallon Park Elementary School, Rutherfoord Child Development Center, Lincoln Terrace Head Start Center, Hurt Park Head Start Center and the Forest Park Baptist Church.

The meals will be provided Monday through Friday from June 18 to Aug. 24.

Herbert said the food program will cost $73,243, but there will be no cost to the city because the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide reimbursement for all meals.

The city's Department of Human Resources will contract with TAP, the city Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the Fifth District Employment and Training Consortium to operate the program.

TAP will prepare the meals and deliver them to the sites at an average cost of $1.65 for each lunch and 95 cents for each breakfast.

Herbert will ask council tonight to approve the contracts for the feeding program.

by CNB