News Release

GOSHEN — The Summer Health Lunch Bunch program aims to improve the health of the community by providing interactive health education to students and families at targeted summer feeding sites. More than 6,500 students have participated in the program since it began.

This summer, through a grant award from the City of Goshen, Goshen Health, Cultivate Food Rescue and Goshen Community Schools are partnering to provide free frozen backpack meals to youth in the community. Every Friday, approximately 250 backpacks will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at select lunch sites in Goshen. Backpacks contain six nutritionally balanced meals to help students meet potential food needs throughout the weekend. The program runs from the week of June 5 to July 21 except the week of July 3.

“Cultivate is excited to partner with Goshen Health and Goshen Schools again this year to get food into the hands of local students,” said Lainie Holland, Cultivate Food Rescue director of planning and programs. ”Providing food resources for students all year long, even throughout the summer, is a priority for our program and we are thankful for partners who can help us execute that goal.”

The Summer Health Lunch Bunch program will be offered at various sites in the region. To find a site, go to goshenhealth.com/health-library/ce-summer-health-lunch-bunch.

School partners in the program include Goshen, Elkhart, Wa-Nee, and Warsaw school systems.

Community partners in the program include include Center for Healing & Hope, Church Community Services, City of Goshen, Cultivate Food Rescue, Elkhart County Health Department, Elkhart County Parks Department, Goshen Farmers Market, Goshen Health, Live Well Kosciusko, Minority Health Coalition, Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition and Purdue Extension of Elkhart County.

For more information about Goshen Health’s school and community nutrition education programs, visit livevibrantly.com or call (574) 364-2496.