PULASKI COUNTY, Va – This week is the last week of school for a lot of school districts, but for some families, that means weeks of added expense on food as the kids are at home.
For students in Pulaski County, they will have the opportunity to continue to get free meals throughout the summer.
Breakfast and lunch is often a kid’s favorite part of the school day, and in Pulaski County Public Schools, every student eats breakfast and lunch for free.
“All of our schools in this division are CEP, meaning all of our students get free breakfast and free lunch,” said Jessica Morrison, Pulaski County Public Schools Director of School Nutrition.
While summer break is here, students won’t go hungry. They will still be provided breakfast and lunch even though they aren’t in class.
“We want to feed as many of them as we possibly can,” Morrison said. “That continues during the summer programs.”
Throughout June and July, families can stop at designated schools to get a breakfast and lunch for any one 18 and under.
“Any day that we are operating summer school, any students can come on grounds and eat at any of our summer school sites,” Morrison said.
For cafeteria manager Sheila Stodder who will be helping out during the summer, she says programs like this can help a family out in so many ways.
“As a parent and a grandparent, that is a big help, even if they use it as a snack, that’s a big help and knowing that they are eating when they are eating, and not just a certain time of the day,” Stodder said. “You can tell which children appreciate it because they do come back and say thank you.”
Throughout the New River Valley other school districts are also participating in summer meal programs.
Each school district throughout the NRV will be feeding kids throughout June and some will extend into July and August.