Students can still get lunch over summer
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 10, 2010 1:46 PM
Students who participate in the county schools' free and reduced lunch programs will not go hungry during summer vacation.
The state's Summer Food Service Program will operate at six locations in Wayne County during the break, providing nutritious snacks and meals for children 18 and under.
There is a chronic need for the program, officials say. During 2009, nearly 704,000 of the state's children were eligible to receive SFSP meals.
At the end of May, more than 289 sites had been approved to participate, with more being added.
"We know that children from low-income families may be hungry when school meals aren't available, especially during these difficult economic times," said Cynthia Ervin, coordinator of the SFSP through the N.C. Division of Public Health. "The Summer Food Service Program ensures that children receive complete, wholesome meals and offers parents help in stretching their food dollars during the summer months."
Free meals will be provided at a variety of approved sites around the state, including schools, parks, vacation Bible schools and low-income housing complexes. Participating organizations receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide meals to complement the recreational and educational programs they already offer.
Children who qualify for the free or reduced lunch price school meals will be able to go to any local sites to receive free meals. Registration is not required and there is no cost to children or families.
Area locations will be operating June 14 through Aug. 20.
Following is a list of sites, along with meal service times:
* Goldsboro Family YMCA, Parkway Drive, 7:30-8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
* Boys & Girls Club-Fremont, N. Sycamore Street, 12-12:30 p.m.
* Boys & Girls Club-Goldsboro, Royall Avenue, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Dillard Academy, West Elm Street, 8-9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* W.A. Foster, South Leslie Street, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Stoney Creek, Stoney Creek Church Road, 8-8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For more information on the program, call Doris Daniels at 920-9961, or Jessy Perkins regarding the Family Y program, at 778-8557.