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CNS serves nearly 60,000 free meals during summer
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WCPSS Child Nutrition Services (CNS) provided free meals to thousands of Wake children as part of the Summer Feeding Program-a program established by the USDA to ensure that children in lower-income areas continue to receive nutritious meals in the summer or during track-out times in year-round schools.
"Last year we had about 28 percent of our students who qualified for free or reduced lunch during the school year. This program is designed to keep those children from going hungry over the summer, since they are not getting school lunch," said CNS Senior Director Marilyn Moody. "It is a major operation that runs efficiently and effectively for us every year."
Between June 9 and August 8, the Summer Feeding Program provided breakfast and lunch to children at 33 different locations in Wake County. In June, 5,532 breakfasts and 21,027 lunches were served. In July, 6,465 breakfasts and 26,689 lunches were served.
"We have seen an increase in participation and continue to work with more and more organizations who want to offer the program," said CNS Area Supervisor Karen Taylor.
This year, about 2,400 children received two meals a day through the Summer Feeding Program. Meals are typically served at Title I summer schools, other school-based programs and many non-school-based summer camp sites organized by churches and the Department of Health and Human Services. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible to receive meals free of charge if they are enrolled in programs that work with CNS to offer the Summer Feeding Program.
The Summer Feeding Program is staffed by CNS employees who work at six kitchens to coordinate the delivery of daily breakfasts and lunches to each of the 33 sites. One change to the program this year was the new boxed lunch and breakfast. These prepackaged meals held all of the components necessary for a healthy lunch when served with milk.
"We've had a tremendous response since we started purchasing boxed lunches. Kids really seem to like them and it is not as labor intensive because our staff no longer has to prepare the meals themselves," said Taylor.
Turkey and ham sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly, apple sauce, graham cracker cookies, nuts and milk were some of the items included in the boxed lunches. Children also had their choice of cereal, French toast, pancakes, fruit, juice and milk in the morning.
WCPSS Child Nutrition Services established the Summer Feeding Program in Wake County more than 20 years ago.
Posted by Ashley Smith at 2:44 PM on August 11, 2008 | Leave Feedback
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