Free breakfast and lunch for children this summer

**imagine** · 05-07-2009, 02:11 PM

The school lunch program continues in the summer at many schools nation wide. (free for all children 18 years or younger)

Any child 18 years old and younger can show up during meal time (breakfast and lunch) Mon -Friday and be fed for free. If adults want to eat they pay for their meal. Children can also show up without adults. Parents can also accompany their child and not eat.

There are two schools that serve breakfast and lunch within walking distance of my home.

Where I live school lunches are generally hot meals and include a protein,a starch, a fruit (preferable fresh), a veggie (preferably fresh), and a glass of milk.

If this is something you or someone you know might need or enjoy check to see if it available in your area.

Here is info about the program
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Seamless_Summer.htm

**WV_mom_of2** · 05-07-2009, 02:32 PM

The school system in my county does this. Not only can you go to the school but at lunch time they pack up a lunch and take it out into the community to certain spots and the kids can get it there. It's not a hot meal though. They come to the park where I work for about 6 weeks of the summer and set up under one of the picnic shelters. Any child, even ones camping from other states can get the meals free! Adults pay 3.50.

They do things like sub sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, chef salads, etc. with fruits and milk.

**GenB** · 05-07-2009, 04:02 PM

What a wonderful thing! We certainly have many children in my town that could use such a program. I don't think we do anything like that here, though. Our school system even cancelled summer school this year due to economic issues. Very sad.

**tryingtodobetter** · 05-07-2009, 04:08 PM

What a fabulous idea, its a shame that there is nothing like this in our country (UK) as there are many children who would benefit from this. I work with children and I know that for some of them the only hot meal they get is their school lunch.

**imagine** · 05-07-2009, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by GenB

What a wonderful thing! We certainly have many children in my town that could use such a program. I don't think we do anything like that here, though. Our school system even cancelled summer school this year due to economic issues. Very sad.

If the program is run well it shouldn't cost the school anything as they are reimbursed for each meal served.

Summer school on the other hand can be an expensive thing.

**YankeeMom** · 05-07-2009, 04:37 PM

They have it at all the elementary schools in our city, except the two closest to me lol. They do have it at the middle school. It's not walking distance, but closer (and in a better neighborhood) than the other schools.

**imagine** · 05-07-2009, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by WV_mom_of2

The school system in my county does this. Not only can you go to the school but at lunch time they pack up a lunch and take it out into the community to certain spots and the kids can get it there. It's not a hot meal though. They come to the park where I work for about 6 weeks of the summer and set up under one of the picnic shelters. Any child, even ones camping from other states can get the meals free! Adults pay 3.50.

They do things like sub sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, chef salads, etc. with fruits and milk.

Adult price here is $3.50 also I will spend the $3.50 sometimes if they are having a favorite like Chicken Steak or Hamburgers. The chef salad sound yummy.

Interesting that yours isn't a hot lunch maybe because of they serve food away from the school.
Every program I have seen in the last decade was hot lunch (at least most days).

**imagine** · 05-07-2009, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

They have it at all the elementary schools in our city, except the two closest to me lol. They do have it at the middle school. It's not walking distance, but closer (and in a better neighborhood) than the other schools.

Have you given it a try or seen the menu? Was/is it a hot lunch?

**mauimagic** · 05-07-2009, 05:00 PM

What a great program to have available for everyone!! Wish we had one like it here. Perhaps someday we will - if enough people put a bug in the ears of the right people!! Mahalo for the info!!

**YankeeMom** · 05-07-2009, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

Have you given it a try or seen the menu? Was/is it a hot lunch?

It's not a hot lunch. Sandwich, fruit, milk, and a treat (like a cookie or Popsicle).

**imagine** · 05-08-2009, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

It's not a hot lunch. Sandwich, fruit, milk, and a treat (like a cookie or Popsicle).

Interesting, thanks.
Our is and has been a hot lunch. I first learned about and saw the summer food program 11 or 12 years ago.

I wonder if what is served varies by state. I know where I live they have strict rules about what has to be in a school lunch (what food groups and how many grams of fat and how often dessert can be served) and how it is prepared (no frying allowed)

**YankeeMom** · 05-08-2009, 07:51 AM

I'm not surprised actually. The school lunches, at least in the lower grades, are junk. Pizza, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs 3-4x/month.

When we lived in AL, it was a culture shock. They served things like catfish nuggets and collard greens

and instead of milk, they offered sweet tea!!

**imagine** · 05-08-2009, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

I'm not surprised actually. The school lunches, at least in the lower grades, are junk. Pizza, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs 3-4x/month.

When we lived in AL, it was a culture shock. They served things like catfish nuggets and collard greens

and instead of milk, they offered sweet tea!!

Wow that surprises me.

We had to get a doctor's note that said daughter was allergic to or intolerant of milk before they would serve her the 100% juice instead of milk. Then the nurse gave us a special form the doc had to fill out and then they let every adult that has anything to do with lunch know that she could have juice instead of milk.

**oiteness** · 05-11-2009, 12:02 AM

Where I live this program is availble or it used to be, there is an area here called "the hill" and a lot of italian restaurants are located there, for the first two weeks of summer school the restaurants would donate food for the lunches, it was so great to see less fortunate kids who may have not ever gotten to taste food like that before eat it for lunch. Also local bakeries donated breakfast.

It makes me so sad to see children hungry, I love the program where schools send kids home with food in their backpacks. The name eludes me at the moment, but I'll look it up.

**WV_mom_of2** · 05-11-2009, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

Adult price here is $3.50 also I will spend the $3.50 sometimes if they are having a favorite like Chicken Steak or Hamburgers. The chef salad sound yummy.

Interesting that yours isn't a hot lunch maybe because of they serve food away from the school.
Every program I have seen in the last decade was hot lunch (at least most days).

It is a hot lunch if you get it at the school. But when they take it to the other locations away from the school they can't keep the foods hot enough so they do cold things there.