Q: My son brought home a flier on the Summer Food Program. What exactly is it?

A: The Summer Food Service Program provides free, nutritious meals to help children get the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school.

This is the 11th year that Lawrence has been involved in the Summer Food Program. In 1997, a coalition representing the Lawrence Campaign to End Childhood Hunger was formed. The coalition recognized that good nutrition is essential for effective learning every day, all year long. As a result, the coalition organized efforts to offer the Summer Food Program in Lawrence.

The Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers the program at the federal level. The Kansas State Department of Education- Child Nutrition and Wellness administers the program at the state level.

Locally, the Summer Food Program is run by several participating agencies, including the Lawrence Public Schools food service department, K-State Research & Extension -Douglas County, Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation, Douglas County ECKAN and Lawrence Housing Authority Resident Services.

The Lawrence schools food services department receives payments from USDA, through KSDE, for the meals they serve and for their documented operating costs.

The program will be offered Monday through Friday at five locations in Lawrence. Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. at all five sites. Breakfast (served only at the Boys and Girls Club and Pinckney and Woodlawn schools) will be offered from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

Here are the meal sites. Dates cover all weekdays except for July 4, when the program is closed:

¢ South Park Recreation Center, 1141 Mass., June 4-Aug. 3

¢ East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St., June 4-Aug. 3

¢ Boys and Girls Club, 1520 Haskell Ave., June 4-July 27

¢ Pinckney School, 810 W. Sixth St., June 4-July 27

¢ Woodlawn School, 508 Elm St., June 4-July 27

Q: What are the cost and qualifications to participate in the Lawrence Summer Food Program?

A: The Lawrence Summer Food Program provides nutritious free meals for all youths between ages 1 and 18. An adult must accompany anyone under 4 years of age. Any adult may also purchase lunch for $2.75 and breakfast for $1.50.

The Summer Food Program is open to anyone who shows up, so all they need to do is come to one of the sites listed above at the designated times, and they’ll be fed. There is no fee or registration, or proof of income, age or past qualifications for a school free or reduced-cost lunch.

Last year in Lawrence, 7,009 breakfasts and 23,168 lunches were served during the Summer Food Program. Even though these numbers seem high, it is still amazing to me that we don’t have more children participating in the program. When you think about a daily average of approximately 560 students being served lunch in the Summer Food Program in 2006 and the total Lawrence Public School’s enrollment is more than 10,000, there’s obviously a huge number of kids out there not taking advantage of this program.

Q: Do students have to be involved in the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Playground program or the Boys and Girls Club to get a free lunch at those sites?

A: No, not at all. We just coordinated the sites and times with the Lawrence Parks and Recreation program and the Boys and Girls Club so those involved in those programs also can take advantage of the program.

The approved sites meet the qualifications in which at least half the children in the area are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. However, once the site is approved, any youth between ages 1 and 18 can get a free meal.

To find out more information about the program, call K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County at 843-7058.