Arby’s giving 3,000 local at-risk children 10 free meals this summer

School is letting out for the summer and the Arby’s Foundation is helping Idaho Falls’ at-risk kids from going hungry during their break from the classroom by giving them free meals through Arby’s “School’s Out, Food’s In” program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 1 in 5 kids in the Gem State do not know where their next meal will come from. The Idaho Falls Community Food Basket will distribute 3,000 meal cards to those in need. Forty-two percent of people who go make use of the food basket are 18 years old or younger — and 72 percent of them are under 13 years old.

As part of Arby’s “School’s Out, Food’s In” program initiative, Idaho Falls kids who rely on meal assistance during the school year can get meal cards to have 10 free Arby’s kids meals throughout the summer.

“There’s only 3,000 cards that go out. Each one of those cards gets 10 punches so that’s 30,000 meals that we are putting out into the area through the food basket,” said Amanda Roberts, owner of the Arby’s on Broadway Street.

If you would like to pick up a free meal card, or if you would like to pick up a free meal card for your child, you can visit the Community Food Basket Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the Arby’s Foundation, visit www.arbysfoundation.org.