The Arby’s Foundation is helping at-risk children, and children of the Kenai Peninsula in general to receive free meals through its “School’s Out, Food’s In” program.
As part of the “School’s Out, Food’s In” Program, the Arby’s Foundation is working with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to distribute more than 4,770 meal cards, each redeemable for 10 Adventure Meals; totaling 47,700 meals available to local children in Kindergarten through 6th grade.
Students throughout the Kenai Peninsula were presented 10-punch, meal cards which are redeemable at any Kenai Peninsula or Anchorage Arby’s.
Ted Navarre, family-owned and operated Arby’s, explains the program’s distribution process and and product.
Navarre: “Arby’s has started a program called “School’s Out, Food’s In”. This year, so there was no stigma associated with cards, we sent out a card for each student in the K-6 programs so that every student enrolled in school on the Kenai Peninsula should’ve received a card with ten punches that they can go to any Arby’s on the Peninsula or in Anchorage and receive a free adventure meal which includes a roast beef and cheese sandwich, apple sauce, and a milk.”
The Alaska School’s Out, Food’s In Program reaches children through Arby’s restaurants in Kenai, Soldotna, Anchorage and Eagle River. The local distribution and redemption has opened with a tremendous response.
Navarre: “First two weeks of the program we have had an overwhelming response and super positive with a lot of kids coming in. We’ve had to pull product from our Anchorage stores down to the Peninsula and we had a much bigger response than was expected.”
The Arby’s Foundation’s vision, nationwide, is to ensure that all children in America have access to wholesome food-every day. The Alaska Arby’s, through the Navarre family, is providing for the children through summer meal cards.
For more information go online to: www.myarby’s.com or www.nochildhungry.org.