Bills Legend Thurman Thomas to Promote Buffalo’s Free Summer Meals Program for Kids

Former Buffalo Bills running back and NFL Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas will serve lunch to children from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo to promote Buffalo Public Schools’ free summer lunch program.

Greg Szklany, a spokesman for the American Dairy Association North East, said many people aren’t aware of the city’s summer meal program, which offers free meals to children 18 and under, without the need for ID, regardless of family income. All kids have to do is show up to receive a free, healthy meal, he said. The program, which began July 8, will run through Aug. 16. Meals include breakfast and lunch.

There are more than 50 summer meal locations throughout the city. You can find the locations on the Buffalo Public Schools website or by texting “Summer Meals” to 97779.

The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also includes a food truck program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday, which will launch July 22 and run through Aug. 15. The trucks will appear Mondays at Cazenovia Park, Tuesdays at Hennepin Park, Wednesdays at Martin Luther King Jr. Park and every Thursday at Riverside Park.

Students who come to the Cazenovia Park event on Wednesday will hear from Thomas and a local dairy farmer, meet a calf and participate in a variety of exercises and activities.