Knock out hunger: That’s the aim of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) block party partnership

The  block party is scheduled to run from  3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 at Jimmy Paul Hands On Boxing Gym, 5620 East Seven Mile Road.

The partners, who are celebrating their fifth year of collaboration, hope that the fifth and final block party of the summer will be a blockbuster event.

The event is free and open to the public and helps celebrate United Way’s summer Meet Up and Eat Up program, which incorporates block parties held throughout the city.

Along with free food and entertainment, face-painting, health activities, a bounce house, and FCA’s World Class Manufacturing Academy Mobile Unit rolling classroom will all be featured at the Aug. 10 block party. About 2,000 meals have been served, locally, at block parties, since July.

United Way serves as a liaison between the state of Michigan, which sponsors MNKH, and community partners who implement Meet Up and Eat Up as meal-providers. Meet Up and Eat Up is an evolution of the 40-year-old U.S. Department of Agriculture’s nationwide Summer Food Service Program, says Sara Gold, director of United Way of Southeastern Michigan’s Healthy Kids Program. Last year Meet Up and Eat Up programs served 1.2 million meals in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. There has also been active meal service in Flint and Genesee County, with 136,440 served in Flint and 184,583 served in the county in 2016.

Meet Up meals will remain available at daily neighborhood sites during hours when students would normally be in school lunchrooms until mid-August, Gold says.

To find a site near you, text the word “FOOD” to telephone number 877-877, dial 2-1-1 for a United Way operator, or visit the website liveunitedsem.org/MUEU.

  childhood hunger, Fiat Chrysler, knocking out hunger, Meet Up and Eat Up, United Way of Southesstern Michigan