Children across Bartholomew County have access to free meals and snacks throughout the summer break, thanks to the Indiana Summer Food Service Program, which begins Monday across five of 12 Bartholomew County sites.
From Monday until Aug. 2, children ages 18 and younger may visit one of 12 sites across the county to receive free meals for breakfast and lunch. The free meals will be available to all children without charge and are the same for all participants.
The federal nutrition program, administered by the Indiana Department of Education, is designed to meet the needs of low-income children in areas where children may lack access to good nutrition.
“Providing children access to wholesome and nutritious meals during the summer months is important to their well-being,” said Jennifer McCormick, state superintendent of public instruction.
Food insecurity across American households is a tangible issue, with an estimated 12.7 percent of households across the U.S. experiencing food insecurity at least once in 2015, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Additional data from USDA revealed more than 30 million students across the country participated in free or reduced-price lunch in 2016, and more than 14 million received free or reduced-price breakfast.
That’s 30 million students who rely on at least one meal at school each day.
Laura Hack, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. director of elementary education, the corporation recognizes the need, which is why BCSC is sponsoring 10 of the 12 Bartholomew County meal sites this summer.
During in 2018-19 school year, 44.3 percent of BCSC’s 11,530 students received free or reduced-price lunch, according to the Indiana Department of Education. The state average stands at 47.3 percent.
“BCSC is always seeking ways to support the whole child — and this means providing healthy food to our students when school is out for the summer,” Hack said. “Unfortunately, hunger doesn’t take a summer break. Some of our families need us to provide a healthy snack and/or meal.”
The other two sites, sponsored by Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp., are located in Hope. In 2018-2019, 39.9 percent of the corporation’s 903 students received free or reduced-price lunches.
All meals are provided at a first-come, first-serve basis.
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The following locations will offer free meals to local children ages 18 and under:
Hope Elementary School, 9575 Indiana 9, Hope
Start Date: Monday
End Date: June 28
Meals served: Lunch (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Hope Public Library, 635 Harrison St.
Start Date: Tuesday
End Date: July 30
Meals served: Morning snacks (10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Tuesday
Rockcreek Elementary School, 13000 E. County Road 200S
Start Date: June 17
End Date: July 19
Meals served: Breakfast (8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.); Lunch (11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Columbus North Science Camp, 1400 25th St.
Start Date: June 11
End Date: June 13
Meals served: Afternoon snack (2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Tuesday – Thursday
Ninth Street Park, 1023 Ninth St.
Start Date: June 10
End Date: July 26
Meals served: Lunch (1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Pence Street Park, Pence Street south of State Street
Start Date: June 10
End Date: July 26
Meals served: Lunch (1:45 p.m. to 2 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Morningside Park, Morningside Drive
Start Date: June 10
End Date: July 26
Meals served: Lunch (2 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Elizabethtown Library, 100 West St.
Start Date: Monday
End Date: July 26
Meals served: Lunch (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Foundation for Youth, 405 Hope Ave.
Start Date: June 3
End Date: Aug. 2
Meals served: Breakfast (7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.); Lunch (11 a.m to 12:30 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St.
Start Date: June 17
End Date: June 21
Meals served: Breakfast (10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.); Lunch (11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St.
Start Date: Monday
End Date: July 26
Meals served: Lunch (12 p.m. to 1 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
Central Middle School, 725 Seventh St.
Start Date: Monday
End Date: Aug. 2
Meals served: Breakfast (8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.); Lunch (12 p.m. to 1 p.m.)
Day(s) of the week: Monday – Friday
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The Summer Food Service Program provided eligible children and youth ages 18 and under with access to free, nutritious meals and snacks during the summer months.
In 2018, Indiana sponsors served nearly 2.7 million meals across the state. Site locations and meal service times vary throughout Indiana, and locations range from parks and community centers to schools, churches, neighborhoods, and mobile feeding sites.
For an interactive map with site locations and hours of operation, visit doe.in.gov/nutrition/summer-food-service-program.
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