As the summer months approach and area schools let out for summer break, some students who receive free or reduced-cost lunches need help finding suitable meals while not in school. One local nonprofit, Fishers Youth Assistance Program (FYAP), is working to provide a solution for those students.
Ty Gerig, public relations chair, says FYAP provides professional, family-centered casework and referral services to students aged 3 to 17, and families who reside within the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school district. Kids and families are often referred to FYAP’s confidential services by the schools, police, court officials, and parents concerned about their children. FYAP offers or connects students and families to various services, including food, clothing, financial assistance, counseling, family education, tutoring, camps, recreational scholarships, and mentoring through the Youth Mentoring Initiative.
FYAP offers a free Summer Meals Program for youths living within the HSE Schools district who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program, or are identified to FYAP by its school partners. Kim Goss, FYAP board member and summer meals liaison, says this year’s program saw countless volunteers and one staff member serve 40,440 meals to an average of 425 students weekly.
This year the Summer Meals Program will run weekly from June 4 to July 23, except the week of July 4. Registered children receive unprepared bags of grocery items, including five breakfasts, five lunches and a family meal, each week. FYAP has also partnered with dedicated community partners, including the health department, HamCo Love and Fishers Parks, to provide a little something extra for each family.
Registrations are sent out toward the end of the school year, identifying families with students aged 3 through those entering 12th grade. Families then pick up the meals that have been hand-picked by volunteers. The summer meal program is headquartered at 8766 East 96th Street in the old Marsh building.
Goss says the HSE community is encouraged to invest in local youth and support this valuable summer resource by volunteering, providing needed food items and making monetary donations. There is also an Amazon Wish List, making donating a breeze.
FYAP collaborates with the HSE school district, the City of Fishers, and the Hamilton County Superior Court. On June 1 FYAP is hosting its annual Pack the Cruiser event with all Hamilton County Kroger stores, police departments and the Sheriff’s Office, to benefit the Summer Meals Program.
For more information, to donate or to volunteer, visit youthassistance.org.
