During the school year, students can count on getting at least two meals a day - breakfast and lunch.
When school lets out for the summer, however, some students may not receive all the meals their bodies need to develop.
But children ages 1 to 18 do not need to go hungry this summer.
Both Warsaw Community and Tippecanoe Valley school corporations are offering Summer Feeding Programs beginning June 8.Marci Franks, WCS director of food services, said the program is offered in areas where there is a large concentration of "poverty pockets." The state sends schools in the poverty pockets letters encouraging them to participate in the Summer Feeding Program. The program is based on school locations and if 50 percent or more students at an elementary school receive free and/or reduced lunch.
At Warsaw Schools, 44.74 percent (2,365) of the student body (6,844) receive free and reduced meals as of Thursday. The highest percentages are at Leesburg, 62.66 percent; Lincoln, 65.14 percent; and Madison, 54.69 percent. The lowest percentage is at Warsaw Community High School with 33.44 percent of the students receiving free and reduced lunches, with the lowest percentage at an elementary school being Eisenhower Elementary at 34.74 percent.
This is the third year for WCS to participate in the program, and the first year for Valley.
Any child 18 and under can receive a meal at no charge. They do not need to be a student at either school corporation or even live in the area. Meals provided to children can not be shared with others. Adults can purchase a lunch for $3, snacks for $1 if all children have been served.
Shirley Swartz, WCS administrative assistant, has helped prepare, serve and deliver the food for the feeding program. "I've done a little bit of all of it," she said. She said the children are very happy to get the food.
In 2007 and 2008, Franks said WCS served the meals at two locations, Baker Youth Club, 765 W. Market St., and Lucerne Park, 820 N. Park Ave. With the school board's and Warsaw Park Dept.'s permission, WCS Food Service Dept. is adding a third location this summer at Center Lake Park, 503 N. Detroit St.
Tippecanoe Valley will have its feeding program at Akron and Mentone elementary schools and Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Franks said the food offered will be based on the same menu as the school year. Warsaw will serve cold meals, not hot, because they will not have the capabilities to serve hot food. Swartz said a typical lunch meal will include a sandwich, fruit and vegetable and milk to drink.
"They will have to eat the meal at the site. That is one of the requirements. There is usually picnic tables for the kids to sit down at," said Swartz.
WCS will begin serving the summer meals at Baker Youth Club June 8 through July 30. Lunch is from 1 to 1:30 p.m., and snacks are 4 to 4:15 p.m.
Meals begin at Lucerne Park June 9 through Aug. 7. Lunch is 12:30 to 1 p.m., with snacks from 3:45 to 4 p.m.
The program begins at Center Lake Park June 8 through Aug. 7. Lunch is 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with snacks from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
Meals are only served Monday through Friday. No meals will be served July 3.
Akron Elementary School, 202 E. Rural St., Akron, will have the Summer Feeding Program June 8 to Aug. 7, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch.
Mentone Elementary School, 301 E. Jackson St., Mentone, will offer children meals June 8 to Aug. 7, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch.
Tippecanoe Valley High School, 8345 S. Ind. 19, Akron, will have the program June 8 to Aug. 7, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch.
No local funding is used to support the Summer Feeding Program. Monies come from the USDA.
"If the economy stays the same, we do anticipate this program growing," said Franks. When WCS started having the program, 33 percent of the student body was on free and reduced lunch. Now, it's at almost 45 percent.
"The state is just encouraging schools to do this in areas where unemployment is high," Franks said.
In 2008, including summer school, WCS served more than 12,000 meals to children in the community. Of those, almost 4,400 meals were served at Baker Youth Club and Lucerne Park as part of the Summer Feeding Program.
Other organizations besides schools can have the program, Franks said. If they follow the same regulations and are monitored by the state, she said churches and not-for-profits can have the feeding programs. The government encourages schools to have the program because schools already are following regulations, Franks said.
Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.
For more information, contact Franks at 574-371-5052, Ext. 2403.
At Valley, contact the administration office at 574-353-7741.
For more information on the program from the state, call 800-537-1142, or visit online at www.doe.state.in.us/food/summer
