A group of students socialize during the free lunch offered at Medical Lake Middle School.
Although school is out for the summer, students can be seen in the Medical Lake Middle School cafeteria.
The school district is currently offering its Summer Food Service Program, where it offers free breakfast and lunch for children ages 1-18, Monday through Friday. Breakfast is served from 9:30-9:45 a.m. while lunch runs from noon – 12:30 p.m. Meals are on a first come, first served basis.
According to its website, the program ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.
Jill Howard, district food services supervisor, said this is the first time in several years the district has offered a free meals program. She explained that one of the requirements for the program is the district must have it at a location in an area where 50 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
"For us that was the middle school," Howard said. "The meals also have to follow federal guidelines."
The program started slow in its first couple of weeks with only a few kids coming each day. Howard said it's picking up as summer goes on.
"There's at least a couple more kids coming each day," Howard said.
The program runs until Aug. 21. Howard's goal for the program is that no child in Medical Lake goes hungry during the summer.
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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