Free summer meals found at area schools

Most weekdays, four children walk down the road to Pittsburg Community Middle School for breakfast. A few hours later, those same children walk the same road to the same school for lunch. Estimated cost over the summer of two healthy meals a day for four kids? Free.
“It’s easy to come here and we’re not having to make something at home,” said 16-year-old Dhevin Malakaua. “It’s easy and simple to do. Sometimes we see our friends here.”
Dhevin brings his siblings, 8-year-old Caitlyn Haden and 5-year-old Malachi Haden, as well as their friend, 9-year-old Kiel O’Neal.
The group takes advantage of the Summer Food Service Program, which offers free summer meals to local children and reduced-cost meals for adults at several local schools. The program is fairly popular over the summer, bringing 300 to 400 students to several local cafeterias.
“It’s an awesome way with the economy the way it is to provide meals for kids during the summer,” said Kelly Horn, USD 250 director of nutrition services. “Even when school is out, parents can send kids to a safe environment for a healthy meal during summer.”
Angela Whetzell is the kitchen manager at Pittsburg Community Middle School. She said that the lunch program is a great opportunity not only for young local children, but for local camps and programs as well.
“This helps kids who don’t normally get nutritious meals in the summer,” Whetzell said. “It helps parents make sure their kids get something good to eat in the summer.”
Whetzell said the size of the crowd each day varies depending on the number of camps, Vacation Bible Schools and activities going on in the day.
There’s another advantage to the summer program for the cafeteria workers, Whetzell said.
“It’s easier in the summer and a lot less work,” Whetzell said. “It’s fun, though, because the kids don’t expect to see you. When they do, they’re like, ‘Hey! We know you!’”
The program is funded through federal and state reimbursements to the schools for serving the meals.
Breakfasts and lunches are free for children under the age of 18. Adults may eat at a cost of $2.25 for breakfast and $3.25 for lunch.
Meals are served at Pittsburg Community Middle School Mondays through Thursdays during June and July from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. for breakfast and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch. Westside Elementary serves breakfast from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday through the end of July. Meadowlark Elementary School will serve breakfast from 7:30 to 8 a.m. and lunch from 11 to 11:30 a.m. starting July 6 and lasting through the end of July.

Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.