Are You Using the Free Summer Lunch Program

Schools all around the country have been opening their doors during the summer to the children and not just for summer school either.

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So what are they doing? The free summer lunch program, this is when many families that need it can show up at the school to get their free lunch during the week. Have you tried it? I know some schools offer a variety of services for this, some are free, reduced or just regular price.

Tampa Bay Online:

The program targets children 18 and younger who qualify during the school year for free and reduced lunches. But there are no qualification requirements for the program. Any child can walk into a participating center and get a free lunch.

“They don’t have to fill out anything,” Coney said. “They just have to show up at one of our sites.”

The Summer Food Service Program is the largest federal initiative available to local sponsors who want to combine food programs with summer activities for children, according to the USDA Web site. But only a fraction of the children who take advantage of free and reduced lunches during the school year participate in the summer program.

“Too often, many children are left searching for unhealthy foods to eat when their parents are working or not in the home,” according to a USDA press release. “When there is not enough food to go around, their nutritional needs are not met and their choices are not always the best.”

It’s all about the nutrition, Coney said. “They need that to play, grow and learn.”

I remember using the reduced program when we were still in the military and just before the children entered school. I was very happy to see them eating healthy and around children their age, plus I didn’t always have to cook. This was the perfect way to make sure my picky and slow eater would be prepared for school lunch.

Is your school doing this? In Hawaii they have 57 schools that are participating in the free summer lunch program this year. My children’s school use this as well, no we haven’t tried it yet. Due to the economy many schools want to participate and get the school children to take part, however some are having to close the program due to how costly it is for the school. Find out if your school is doing it.