Providence brought back its midnight basketball league Thursday evening. More than 50 teams are expected to participate, along with members of the state police. The program is part of an effort to improve community-police relations and keep city kids busy during the summer.
The city is also offering day camps for just $5 a week. And Providence kids can get free breakfast and lunch through the Summer Food Service program. The program provides meals at more than 30 parks across the city.
A dozen kids run in and out of fountains at the Fox Point Water Park. At the playground nearby, volunteer Ija Johnson passes out brown bag lunches. Johnson says that she usually hands out around 25 lunches a day. Without these meals, Johnson says, some kids in the neighborhood might go hungry.
“I think it’s a great program, I wish everywhere had a program like this because it does help a lot of the kids because you never know what is going on with them behind closed doors,” said Johnson. “I hope that they are going to eat something later and if not I can’t wait to see them tomorrow so they can get another meal.”
According to the Rhode Island Department of Education, volunteers like Johnson will hand out some 300,000 free lunches across Rhode Island this summer. Providence resident Shana Long brings her four children to Fox Point for the lunches and the chance cool off in the sprinklers.
“Since I’ve been little, personally, I’ve been getting free lunches so it was just natural when I hear about the program to bring my kids,” said Long. “It’s a good program especially for kids that don’t have food or lunch.”
The free lunches include a sandwich and a piece of fruit. One East Side elementary school girl said the chocolate milk is her favorite part.
