Summer food program run by La Crosse YMCA applauded by USDA

The La Crosse YMCA received recognition Thursday from the federal government for its program to keep kids and their families fed during summer vacation.

The Food Access Program at the YMCA was visited by federal employees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We have a new program at USDA that allows them not to have to bring the kids to the food, but they can bring the food to the kids,” Cindy Long, a deputy undersecretary from the USDA who’s based in Washington, said.

Long added that the La Crosse YMCA could provide up to 250,000 meals through the program this summer.

“This is a brand new opportunity,” she added. “This YMCA has embraced it with wide-open arms.”

The La Crosse Area YMCAs summer program can feed 900 children every day. Local officials hope to add at least 100 more families to the program.

Bill Soper, the La Crosse Area YMCAs CEO, talked about the summer food program before the USDA visit on La Crosse Talk earlier this week.