Kids Get Free Meals Even Though Schools Are Closed

SEBRING - Hundreds of corn dogs and turkey and cheese melt sandwiches were served Thursday to Highlands County children through the Summer Food Service Program.

That was just lunch. The program, which is administered by the Highlands County School District's Food and Nutrition Services Department, also serves up free breakfasts and snacks to children and youth from birth through 18 years of age.

Cub City Learning Center voluntary pre-K instructor Yolonda Evans had 22 of her 4- and 5-year-olds eating lunch at Sebring Middle School on Thursday.

"They are enjoying it, and it's healthy for them," Evans said.

The United States Department of Agriculture, which funds the program, recognizes that some kids don't get enough to eat during the summer because their parents don't have enough food, said District Food Service Director Martha Brown.

Because about 65 percent of the students in the county qualify for free or reduced priced meals, most of the district's schools qualify for participation in the summer food program, Brown added.

Meals are prepared and packaged at Sebring Middle and Avon Park and Lake Placid high schools.

They are eaten at these sites and delivered to the other district schools and picked up for delivery to daycares and children recreation and camp sites. The program served 112,000 meals last summer.

This summer it appears that 150,000 meals could be served, but many of the organizations overestimate the number of students they will have as there are usually a few no-shows, Brown said.

"We are looking for fresh foods and fruits that are cost effective and available and part of our goal is to provide them with new food experiences that they may not get otherwise," Brown added.

The program will run through Aug. 8.

Local community organizations that are interested in becoming a feeding site should contact District Food Service Manager Barbara Haywood at 471-5676.

Program monitor Margo Whitney said "it's really quite nice when you see those kids getting those meals and they're very thankful for them."

Pringle added that the summer food program provides some kids with their only meals for the day.
Whitney said with the current economy the program is needed more than ever before.

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
Open June 9 Through Aug. 8
SCHOOL BREAKFAST LUNCH
Avon Elementary 8:30-9 a.m. 11:30 a.m. - noon
Avon Park High 7:30-9 a.m. 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Park Elementary 8:15-9 a.m. 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Sun N' Lakes Elem. 8-8:30 a.m. Noon- 12:30 p.m.
Fred Wild Elem. 8-8:30 a.m. Noon -12:30 p.m.
Woodlawn Elem. 8:15-8:45 a.m. 11:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Cracker Trail Elem. 8-8:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. - noon
Lake Country Elem. No Meal Service 11:30 a.m.- 12:15 p.m.
Lake Placid Elem. 8-8:45 a.m. 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Lake Placid High 7:30-8:30 a.m. 11 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.
Sebring Middle 7:30-9:15 a.m. 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Kindergarten
Learning Center 8:30-9 a.m. Noon - 12:30 p.m.