Share Summer Meals Program

In 2020, our Summer Meals program adapted to serve free meals to kids in our community in a safe and socially-distanced way. Despite concerns and delays in the planning process, the program began on time, operated for a full eight weeks and served 16,167 free meals.

We utilized the USDA waiver that allowed children to take their meals with them instead of needing to stay on-site to eat. And while numerous volunteers and community partners were integral to the daily operations, we were tremendously grateful to St. Joseph Catholic Church who stepped up to offer Marian Hall and its commercial kitchen as the home base for our program.

Through Share’s Summer Meals program, all children and teens 18 and under are welcome. No paperwork is required, and we do not collect personal information. Children must be present to receive a meal.

Food is incredibly important for a developing child or teen, and yet over 20,000 children in Clark County are considered food insecure (they do not know when or where their next meal is coming from). Research shows that receiving free or reduced-price meals reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health in children. Summer Meals is a federally funded, state-administered program that reimburses providers who serve free healthy meals to children & teens when school is not in session. The goal of the program is to give all children 18 and under access to nutritious meals in low-income areas while they do not have access to free/reduced school meals.

For more information, please contact Becci Read-Ryan at bread-ryan@sharevancouver.org or 360-553-8064.

In 2020, Share partnered with Evergreen Public Schools, Vancouver Public Schools, as well as multiple faith-based communities and local apartment complexes to provide this comprehensive map of free meals in Clark County. We are extremely grateful for their participation and commitment to helping feed children in our community. All children 18 & under are welcome at any site. To find the site closest to you, you can also text FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877.

USDA Civil Rights Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Donate Resources

Donations of physical goods are always welcome. Some of the items we currently need include: non-perishable food, new hygiene & personal care items and new cleaning supplies. Contact Sara Johnson at 360-952-8312 to schedule a donation drop-off.

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