Bills legend Thurman Thomas to promote free Buffalo summer meals program for kids

Anti-hunger advocates and school officials will also be at the event to encourage students to stay active and eat healthy meals over the summer, according to Greg Szklany, a spokesperson for the American Dairy Association North East.

Szklany said many people don’t know about the city’s summer meals program, which provides free meals to all children 18 and under, requiring no ID, regardless of family income. All children have to do is show up to receive a free, healthy meal, he said.

The program, which began July 8, will continue through Aug. 16. Free meals include breakfast and lunch.

More than 50 summer meal sites are located across the city. Locations can be found on the Buffalo Public Schools website or by texting “Summer Meals” to 97779.

The program also includes a summer food truck program from 11 am to 1 pm, Monday through Thursday, which will launch July 22 and continue through Aug. 15.

Food trucks will appear on Mondays in Cazenovia Park, Tuesdays in Hennepin Park, Wednesdays in Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and every Thursday in Riverside Park.

The summer meals program is funded through the US Department of Agriculture.

Students who show up at the Cazenovia Park event Wednesday will hear from Thomas and a local dairy farmer, meet a calf and participate in a variety of exercises and activities.