Verde Valley News – Manzanita Outreach was created to fill gaps in existing food security efforts. One such gap occurs in the summer when children who rely on schoolbased free meal programs lose access to important sources of nutrition.
This year, Manzanita will use its caring volunteer force and large-scale food storage and distribution capacity to administer the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for our region. This program provides a week’s worth of frozen meals to area children in need. Meals are nutritionally balanced and USDA approved. Menus include kid-approved favorites like mini cheeseburger sliders and bean-and-cheese burritos with fruit and vegetable sides.
Families can pick up “freeze-and-thaw” meals at one of three convenient locations and receive Manzanita fresh food boxes for the whole family at the same time. Verde Valley locations include the Manzanita Food Hub in Cottonwood and a lot in Clarkdale just outside the school.
Alongside local schools and libraries, Manzanita will be a provider for Verde Valley locations and will fill weekend gaps for the Dewey-Humboldt school system. Other providers will provide hot-meal service to eat on site, ensuring that even those who do not have access to a kitchen can enjoy summer with nutrition-fueled energy.
For more information about other services available in Yavapai County, visit mohelp.org. For more information about Manzanita Outreach, including volunteering in summer food security efforts, visit manzanitaoutreach.org.