3 Callaway County schools to begin serving summer meals

Students at Hatton-McCredie Elementary School enjoy lunch. Three school districts in Callaway County will offer free summer meals to all children under the age of 18.
Students at Hatton-McCredie Elementary School enjoy lunch. Three school districts in Callaway County will offer free summer meals to all children under the age of 18.

Families in Callaway County will receive free meals this summer from three school districts and the summer meal service program.

"We are excited to see how this helps families," said Nicole Kemp, assistant superintendent of North Callaway School District.

Residents, regardless of income, can go to six locations in the county to receive free breakfasts and lunches, a service provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

According to USDA statistics, more than 22 million students in the country qualify for free and reduced lunch, yet only 3.8 million students take advantage of free summer meal programs.

Local school officials said they are hoping to reverse that trend and attract more students.

"We have always been an open facility during the summer," said Patty Stegemann, kitchen manager of Callaway Hills Elementary in Holts Summit. "We don't have too many take advantage of it."

USDA officials also emphasize the importance of nutritious meals in the development of children.

"Good food not only helps your body climb hills when you're a kid, but it helps your brain develop in order to learn new stuff," the USDA stated on its website.

North Callaway children will have free meal services at North Callaway High School and Hatton-McCredie Elementary on weekdays through the month of June, school officials said.

"This will be our first year offering it, and we hope it will have a very positive impact," said Kemp.

At Callaway Hills Elementary in Holts Summit, children 18 and under will be provided free breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday for the month of June.

Fulton Public Schools will offer a similar service on weekdays through the end of June, with meals at Bush Elementary, Fulton Middle School and Fulton High School. In addition, sack lunches will be available for pickup at the Callaway YMCA.

"It's an opportunity for us to help the summer school students and to help others that need the help," said Rhonda Fletcher, director of food services at Fulton Public Schools.

Said Kemp: "We hope that we will see more students take advantage of summer school and free meals through the summer service program."

Transportation to meal sites is one hurdle students and their families will have to overcome, both Kemp and Stegemann said.

"For kids to get here, they generally have to have parents bring them," Stegemann added.

Callaway Hills, North Callaway High and Hatton-McCredie Elementary allow parents to also take advantage of the program by giving them the option of purchasing a meal for less than $3. Fulton does not allow anybody over age 18 to purchase meals.

FREE SUMMER MEAL LOCATIONS

North Callaway High School, 2700 Highway 54, Kingdom City, 573-386-2211, Monday through Friday, breakfast: 7:50-8:20 a.m.; lunch: 11:30 a.m.-noon.

Hatton-McCredie Elementary, 4171 County Road 240, Kingdom City, 573-642-4333, Monday through Friday, breakfast: 7:40-8:10 a.m.; lunch: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Fulton High School, 1 Hornet Drive, Fulton, 573-590-8100, Monday through Friday during June, breakfast: 7:30-8:30 a.m.; lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Fulton Middle School, 403 E. 10th St., Fulton, 573-590-8200, Monday through Friday during June, breakfast: 7:30-8:30 a.m.; lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Bush Elementary, 908 Wood St., Fulton, 573-590-8400, Monday through Friday during June, breakfast: 7:30-8:30 a.m.; lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Callaway Hills Elementary, 2715 State Road AA, Holts Summit, 573-896-5051, Monday through Thursday during June, breakfast: 7:15-8 a.m.;lunch: 11:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m.