LAKE COUNTY >> With school out of session across Lake County, summer vacation is officially here.
Unfortunately, that can translate to major financial stress for many families with children. According to a study done by No Kid Hungry, 50-percent of low-income families spend $300 more per month on groceries during the summer. When free-of-charge and reduced meals are not available, some parents have to make impossible decisions about where to spend their limited dollars: will they buy food or pay for rent, health care, child care or other bills?
More than 31 million U.S. students are eligible for the federally funded, USDA-run National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which provides low-cost or free meals. More than 70-percent of Lake County”s K-12 students qualify.
“The sad truth is, many kids in Lake County don”t get enough to eat during the summer,” Tarney Sheldon, nutrition basics program manager for North Coast Opportunities Community Action stated.
Fortunately, the USDA sponsors the summer food program. In Lake County, there are several sites serving free meals to kids. There are no income requirements or forms to fill out; everyone is welcome.
“Sites that offer summer meals fill the void created when school meals are not available,” Ligia Lopes, a VISTA volunteer for FIRST 5 in Mendocino County, stated. “We are so lucky to have this program available, and we encourage anyone in need to take advantage of it.”
In Kelseyville, children up to 18 years of age can get breakfast, free-of-charge, at 7:30 a.m. at Kelseyville High School and Kelseyville Elementary School, as well as a free-of-charge lunch at 11:45 a.m. at the high school and 11:20 a.m. at the elementary school. These meals are available Monday through Friday from July 7 to July 31. For information, call 279-2519. The high school is located at 5480 Main St. and the elementary school is located at 5065 Konocti Road in Kelseyville.
In Lakeport, children up to 18 years of age can get breakfast, free-of-charge, at 7:45 a.m. and a free-of-charge lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Terrace Middle School, Monday through Friday, from June 12 to July 10. For information, call 262-3028. The high school is located at 150 Lange St. and the high school is located at 350 Lange St. in Lakeport.
Groups are welcome at most sites, including day care groups and parents who feel like they run a day care with all their kids” friends emptying the fridge. For large groups, a phone call in the morning is appreciated so the site can prepare enough food.
As the Nutrition and Physical Activities Coordinator for the HHSA Public Health Branch, Lopes notes that, ironically, “During the summer children are at a higher risk of both obesity and hunger.”
In addition to encouraging people to take advantage of summer meal sites that provide healthy options to those students without enough food, Lopes also emphasizes the importance of parents and day care providers offering nutritionally-dense food for kids during the summer months. “This program helps children stay healthy so they can return to school ready to learn in the fall, which is what we want for all of our students,” Lopes stated.
For information or to find additional sites, call 1-866-3-Hungry or visit www.whyhunger.org/findfood.
