{"id":62780,"date":"2016-06-14T18:00:23","date_gmt":"2016-06-14T22:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=62780"},"modified":"2020-12-04T06:27:52","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T11:27:52","slug":"expansion-of-free-food-service-for-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2016\/06\/14\/expansion-of-free-food-service-for-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"Expansion of free food Service for youth"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/FWayne_Parks-136x200.jpg\" alt=\"Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation\" width=\"136\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-34852\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>News release from Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Fort Wayne Parks &amp; Recreation Department Expanding Free Food Service for Youth<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Number of meals\/snacks served has soared to over 90,000 per year<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>(June 14, 2016) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d The Fort Wayne Parks &amp; Recreation Department served over 90,000 free meals to youth, ages 5 &#8211; 18, in 2015 and now plans to start providing more. In conjunction with the beginning of the Department&#8217;s weekday summer programming which runs June 6 &#8211; July 29, breakfast will be served at four additional playground sites: Hamilton, Lafayette, Lakeside and Packard Parks. The breakfasts will consist of 1 serving of milk (when refrigeration is available), 1 serving of fruit or vegetables and 1 serving of whole grain. It&#8217;s anticipated that up to 10,000 more breakfasts will be served this year. Breakfast, lunch and a snack have been provided at Jennings, Cooper and Weisser Community Centers and Memorial Park for over twenty years. McMillen Park Community Center was added to the list when it opened in 2014. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Each of the four summer playground sites we&#8217;re adding average 54 kids per day. Those children should have the same opportunity to eat a nutritious morning meal as the other children we serve,&#8221; said Parks &amp; Recreation Director Al Moll. &#8220;We tend to promote the recreational and educational components of our safe haven sites. This nutritional component is just another way we provide a safe atmosphere, as well as an opportunity to strengthen social skills. The kids dine together in a family-like atmosphere.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Parks &amp; Recreation Department partners with Community Harvest Food Bank to provide breakfasts in the summer, as well as meals throughout the school year and partners with Fort Wayne Community Schools to provide lunches and snacks at all nine sites throughout the summer. The increased demand of meals served, which led to increased documentation and compliance, made it necessary for the Department to centralize the Food Service program under one organization unit which is managed and coordinated by Costella Mack, the Food Service Supervisor. <\/p>\n<p>The Parks &amp; Recreation Department purchases food from Community Harvest Food Bank at a very low cost, sometimes free, to provide the following additional Food Service programs:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kid&#8217;s Caf\u00c3\u00a9<\/strong>: During the school year, on snow days and during school vacations, children are served a free, hot meal at Jennings, Cooper, Weisser and McMillen Park Community Centers. The program incorporates an educational component as well. Children help prepare the food, learning about nutrition and safety guidelines and employ reading and math skills when working with recipes. Jennings Recreation Center was the pilot program for Kid&#8217;s Caf\u00c3\u00a9 in 1998. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Backpack Program<\/strong>: Every Friday during the school year, children receive nonperishable items like cereal, rice, macaroni and cheese, canned goods and granola bars, to take home with them to supplement weekend meals at home. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Special Event Food Service<\/strong>: Food is served at all of the special events, including holiday celebrations and festivals, held throughout the year at our youth centers and in our parks. <\/p>\n<p>When preparing and serving meals, the Department follows guidelines established by the USDA Food &amp; Nutrition Services.<\/p>\n<p>Children ages 5 &#8211; 18 are invited to spend their summer vacation at one of our safe haven playgrounds or youth centers through July 29, Monday &#8211; Friday, 9 am &#8211; 5 pm. There will be activities for everyone, including sports, crafts, games and enrichment. Or, children ages 7 &#8211; 18 who would like to learn the lifetime skills of tennis, golf and swimming, are invited to attend the Lifetime Sports Academy at McMillen Park through July 22. <\/p>\n<p>For more information about the Summer Playground Program, the Neighborhood Recreation Center Program, McMillen Park Community Center or the Lifetime Sports Academy, call the Parks &amp; Recreation Department at 260-427-6000 or visit www.fortwayneparks.org.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Related Images:<\/h3><div class=\"ngg-related-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/bc\/93635.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Parks and Recreation Director, Al Moll, speaks during the McCulloch Park rededication.  Photo taken June 6, 2009 at the Broadway Family Funfest.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"2100\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/bc\/93635.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/bc\/thumbs\/thumbs_93635.jpg\" data-title=\"Parks and Recreation Director, Al Moll\" data-description=\"Parks and Recreation Director, Al Moll, speaks during the McCulloch Park rededication.  Photo taken June 6, 2009 at the Broadway Family Funfest.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Parks and Recreation Director, Al Moll\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Parks and Recreation Director, Al Moll\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"2100\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/bc\/thumbs\/thumbs_93635.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/bc\/93681.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Parks and Recreation Director Al Moll with Bennie Lewis, Manager of Neighborhood Programs, Michael Ayers, Coordinator of Neighborhood Programs and Perry Ehresman, Parks and Recreation Deputy  Director.  Photo taken June 6, 2009 at the Broadway Family Funfest.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"2105\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/bc\/93681.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/bc\/thumbs\/thumbs_93681.jpg\" data-title=\"Al Moll, Bennie Lewis, Michael Ayers and Perry Ehresman\" data-description=\"Parks and Recreation Director Al Moll with Bennie Lewis, Manager of Neighborhood Programs, Michael Ayers, Coordinator of Neighborhood Programs and Perry Ehresman, Parks and Recreation Deputy  Director.  Photo taken June 6, 2009 at the Broadway Family Funfest.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Al Moll, Bennie Lewis, Michael Ayers and Perry Ehresman\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Al Moll, Bennie Lewis, Michael Ayers and Perry Ehresman\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"2105\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/bc\/thumbs\/thumbs_93681.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/rivergreenway\/20132.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Community Murals along the Rivergreenway near Old Fort Wayne. Photo taken April 15, 2007.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"2153\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/rivergreenway\/20132.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/rivergreenway\/thumbs\/thumbs_20132.jpg\" data-title=\"Community Murals\" data-description=\"Community Murals along the Rivergreenway near Old Fort Wayne. Photo taken April 15, 2007.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Community Murals\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Community Murals\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"2153\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/rivergreenway\/thumbs\/thumbs_20132.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/10092.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Foellinger Theatre at Franke Park. Photo taken September 12, 2005.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"2174\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/10092.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/thumbs\/thumbs_10092.jpg\" data-title=\"Foellinger Theatre\" data-description=\"Foellinger Theatre at Franke Park. Photo taken September 12, 2005.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Foellinger Theatre\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Foellinger Theatre\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"2174\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/thumbs\/thumbs_10092.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/100_3783.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Interior of the Foellinger Theatre. Photo taken June 16, 2009 and provided by Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"2398\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/100_3783.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/thumbs\/thumbs_100_3783.jpg\" data-title=\"Foellinger Theatre\" data-description=\"Interior of the Foellinger Theatre. Photo taken June 16, 2009 and provided by Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Foellinger Theatre\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Foellinger Theatre\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"2398\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/thumbs\/thumbs_100_3783.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/wendy_with_kids_2007.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson. Courtesy photo.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"4397\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/wendy_with_kids_2007.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_wendy_with_kids_2007.jpg\" data-title=\"Dr. Wendy Robinson\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson. Courtesy photo.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Dr. Wendy Robinson\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Dr. Wendy Robinson\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4397\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_wendy_with_kids_2007.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/5547.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Lakeside Park Pond. Photo taken June 23, 2004.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"4703\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/5547.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/thumbs\/thumbs_5547.jpg\" data-title=\"Lakeside Park pond\" data-description=\"Lakeside Park Pond. Photo taken June 23, 2004.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Lakeside Park pond\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Lakeside Park pond\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4703\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwparks\/thumbs\/thumbs_5547.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/kekionga1.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Cover for the Kekionga Steel Drums CD. Courtesy photo.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"4960\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/kekionga1.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_kekionga1.jpg\" data-title=\"Kekionga Steel Drums CD Cover\" data-description=\"Cover for the Kekionga Steel Drums CD. Courtesy photo.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Kekionga Steel Drums CD Cover\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Kekionga Steel Drums CD Cover\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4960\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_kekionga1.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/kekionga2.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Back cover for the Kekionga Steel Drums CD. Courtesy photo.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"4961\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/kekionga2.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_kekionga2.jpg\" data-title=\"Kekionga Steel Drums CD Back Cover\" data-description=\"Back cover for the Kekionga Steel Drums CD. Courtesy photo.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Kekionga Steel Drums CD Back Cover\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Kekionga Steel Drums CD Back Cover\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4961\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_kekionga2.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/slp121102.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"LEAD press conference held January 29, 2010. Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson is at the lectern.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"4964\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/slp121102.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_slp121102.jpg\" data-title=\"LEAD press conference\" data-description=\"LEAD press conference held January 29, 2010. Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson is at the lectern.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"LEAD press conference\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"LEAD press conference\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"4964\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_slp121102.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/125070.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Stitch n Frame&#039;s sign suggesting that FWCS Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson take a wage cut to save Elmhurst High School from closing.  Photo taken March 24, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"5048\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/125070.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_125070.jpg\" data-title=\"Stitch n Frame\" data-description=\"The Stitch n Frame&#039;s sign suggesting that FWCS Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson take a wage cut to save Elmhurst High School from closing.  Photo taken March 24, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Stitch n Frame\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Stitch n Frame\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5048\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_125070.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/125072.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Spyro&#039;s Pancake House on Bluffton Road asks to save Elmhurst High School.  Photo taken March 24, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"5049\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/125072.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_125072.jpg\" data-title=\"Spyro&#039;s Pancake House\" data-description=\"Spyro&#039;s Pancake House on Bluffton Road asks to save Elmhurst High School.  Photo taken March 24, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Spyro&#039;s Pancake House\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Spyro&#039;s Pancake House\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5049\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/assorted-photos\/thumbs\/thumbs_125072.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/were1.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Abbett Elementary students surround principal Robin Peterman as she holds the trophy for winning the school food drive competition leading up to the Letter Carriers\u2019 Food Drive. Courtesy photo taken May 5, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"5230\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/were1.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_were1.jpg\" data-title=\"Abbett Elementary students: We&#039;re #1\" data-description=\"Abbett Elementary students surround principal Robin Peterman as she holds the trophy for winning the school food drive competition leading up to the Letter Carriers\u2019 Food Drive. Courtesy photo taken May 5, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Abbett Elementary students: We&#039;re #1\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Abbett Elementary students: We&#039;re #1\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5230\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_were1.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/134152.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson and Board President Mark GiaQuinta at a press conference to present ISTEP+ preliminary data. Photo taken May 27, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"5355\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/134152.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_134152.jpg\" data-title=\"Dr. Wendy Robinson and Mark GiaQuinta\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson and Board President Mark GiaQuinta at a press conference to present ISTEP+ preliminary data. Photo taken May 27, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Dr. Wendy Robinson and Mark GiaQuinta\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Dr. Wendy Robinson and Mark GiaQuinta\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5355\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_134152.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/134157.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne Community Schools Board President Mark GiaQuinta at a press conference to present ISTEP+ preliminary data. Photo taken May 27, 2010.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='69c82b676f2de952259c521e1650d584' data-image-id=\"5356\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/134157.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_134157.jpg\" data-title=\"Mark GiaQuinta\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne Community Schools Board President Mark GiaQuinta at a press conference to present ISTEP+ preliminary data. Photo taken May 27, 2010.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Mark GiaQuinta\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Mark GiaQuinta\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5356\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fwcs\/thumbs\/thumbs_134157.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Fort Wayne Parks &amp; Recreation Department served over 90,000 free meals to youth, ages 5 &#8211; 18, in 2015 and now plans to start providing more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":34852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1422],"tags":[623,2269,22518,20708,1368,3396,19129,19130,23,19131,1041,7881,9742,13586,204,6428,773,19132,13588,2031,14891,19133,5111],"class_list":["post-62780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parks-and-recreation-local-government-news","tag-al-moll","tag-albert-g-jennings-community-center","tag-city-of-fort-wayne-parks-and-recreation-department","tag-city-of-fort-wayne-parks-and-recreation-lifetime-sports-academy","tag-community-harvest-food-bank","tag-cooper-community-center","tag-costella-mack","tag-food-service","tag-fort-wayne-indiana","tag-fwcs-food-service-program","tag-fwcs-fort-wayne-community-schools","tag-hamilton-park","tag-kids-cafe","tag-lafayette-park","tag-lakeside-park","tag-mcmillen-park-community-center","tag-memorial-park","tag-neighborhood-recreation-center-program","tag-packard-park","tag-safe-haven","tag-summer-playground-program","tag-usda-food-and-nutrition-services","tag-weisser-park-community-center"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Expansion of free food Service for youth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Fort Wayne Parks &amp; 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