Published: May 06, 2008 11:36 pm            

Area schools to offer summer lunches

For some children, the only meal they may get some days is lunch at school. So what happens to those children when school isn’t in session?

This year, Dalton Public Schools, Whitfield County Schools and Murray County Schools will once again take part in the federal summer meals program. This provides free meals and snacks each weekday to children 18 and under. Some locations will also offer breakfast.

“We find they are just waiting on us,” said Dalton Public Schools nutrition director Amy Weaver-Akins. “We are concerned because we have a slowdown in the economy, and fresh fruits and vegetables may not be at the top of the list for mommas to buy.”

Dalton Public Schools will kick off its summer meals program on June 5 through the end of July from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Last year, DPS fed an average of 2,500 to 3,000 children each day in its part of the program.

“We will feed every child up to the age of 18. We turn no child away,” Weaver-Akins said.

The program is completely funded by the federal government.

“It does not in any way affect our local budgets,” said Whitfield County Schools nutrition director Iris Graham.

Whitfield County Schools kicks off its summer lunch program on June 9, and it will run through July 31. Graham says the meals will likely be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Last year, the Whitfield program fed an average of 1,600 children a day.

In Murray County, the program kicks off on June 2 and runs through July 25. Murray County school nutrition director Amanda Ridley says the schools fed an average of 550 children a day last summer.

All three school systems are still putting together the sites where they’ll be serving meals.

“It is open to any group that would like to sponsor a site,” said Graham.

Dalton Public Schools and Whitfield County Schools will host a meeting for those interested in hosting the program today at 5 p.m. at Blue Ridge School.

Weaver-Akins says Dalton Public Schools will definitely be providing meals at several of the sites it did last year, including Roan School, Blue Ridge School and City Park School.

“We will not be in the schools but outside,” she said. “We will be at every park in town. We try to be where children are gathering. We’ll hit almost all the large apartment complexes. And many churches open their doors to us.”

In Murray County, Ridley says the program will be held at the Old Eton School, the Spring Place trailer park, the Mountain View mobile home park, Coker Elementary School and the Ninth Grade Academy.

“If anyone has a site or wants to open a site, just call us at (706) 517-0155,” Ridley said.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.