CH-UH Library, Schools Offer Free Meals and Reading Programs in the Summer

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Library and the CH-UH School District are both offering free meals and reading opportunities for students throughout the summer. 

Lunch is on the library, and the CH-UH School District will take care of dinner.

The Heights Libraries program started Monday, June 11 and runs through Aug. 10. Young children up to age 18 are welcome to stop by the from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. every weekday to enjoy lunch sponsored by the Cleveland Food Bank and summer reading-related activities and games hosted by the library. Children and teens can also sign up for .

This is the third year the library has offered the program in partnership with the food bank.

“It became clear that we had a great opportunity to find a different way to serve families hard hit by the economy,” said Sam Lapides, Heights Libraries special projects manager and summer lunch program coordinator. “This program allows us to fill the crucial nutritional needs of local children while also offering opportunities for early literacy programming and services."

The library can serve up to 250 kids each day.

"We served about 5,000 lunches in 2010 and 2011 combined,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin.

The CH-UH School District is hosting a reading and dinner program for elementary students and their families Tuesdays from June 12 to July 3 called "Books A Go-Go." Children can visit their neighborhood elementary school for dinner from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and can read and check out books in each school's library until 7:30 p.m. Reading activities will also be available to students. 

Registration is not required for either program.

For more information about the library program, contact Sam Lapides at 216-932-3600, ext. 290. For more information about the CH-UH School District program, visit the website.