Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (NDS) sponsored its annual Blessing of the Summer to kick off its Summer Meals Program. Monsignor Daniel Sullivan, President of the NDS Board, presided over the blessing at Holy Redeemer School on Thursday, June 25, 2015.
The Summer Meals Program is federally funded and operated nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This year the NDS Summer Meals Program runs from June 15th through August 28th.
Last summer, NDS worked with 450 sites and served 779,016 meals throughout the Philadelphia region. NDS partners with dedicated community leaders to provide service to families and contribute to the health and well-being of children in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.
Holy Redeemer School is one of the over 400 summer sites that will partner with NDS this year in providing a healthy meal to children. Participating sites offer children lunch and a choice of breakfast or a snack. Most Philadelphia and many suburban neighborhoods qualify for the program.
Min Zhang enjoys his whole grain chicken nuggests.
Anne Ayella, from Nutrional Development Services, welcomes boys and girls at Holy Redeemer School and introduces the summer meals program.
Msgr. Daniel Sullivan, President of the NDS Board, presides over the Blessing of the Summer at Holy Redeemer School.
Hiu Nam Chung receives her lunch provided by NDS.
Felisa Liu gets her lunch at Holy Redeemer School Camp.
Msgr. Daniel Sullivan leads the children in pray before lunch.
Jin-Han Zhang is excited when she opens her box to find out what she’ll be having for lunch.
Raymond Zheng shows a sign of peace.
Anne Ayella from NDS chats with campers as they enjoy their lunch.
Wendy Dong, Hannah Lin and Joyce Liu pray together a prayer for peace.
Davin Lin
Alan Wang
Hayley Yuen prays during the Blessing of the Summer.
Anne Ayella, from NDS, holds a basket of peace necklaces as Msgr. Daniel Sullivan, President of the NDS Board, blesses them.
Children received peace symbol necklaces from NDS to remind the children to continue peace this summer.
Kevin Eap puts on his peace necklace.
Sambo Lim happily wears the peace sign necklace that NDS provided for the children.
Kevin Lin is happy to have a cookie for dessert.
Sam Liu takes a bite out of his juicy peach.
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