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Zach Colick
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Posted: Tue Jun 23rd, 2009 11:12 pm |
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Editor's note: The following story appears in the June 24 Town of Paradise Valley Independent. Post comments by hitting reply in the upper right-hand corner. Comments will be posted in an upcoming issue of the Town of Paradise Valley Independent.
SUSD provides free meals this summer
Sites in areas where 50% are classified as low-income
By Zach Colick
Independent Newspapers
Summer break may have already started, but cafeteria staff will have their hands full through mid-August at two south Scottsdale schools by serving meals to many children who otherwise could not afford it.
During the school year, meals are available to children through a national school breakfast and lunch program — but end when school lets out for summer.
Sierra Vista Academy and Supai Middle School and are just two of many schools nationwide taking part in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program.
It is the single largest federal resource available for local organizations wanting to “fill the hunger gap” by combining a feeding program with a summer activity program for children.
The program kicked off earlier this month, and provides free breakfast and lunch to any child in the community ages 1 to 18. Sites are in areas where at least half of students are classified as low-income.
For those who are 18 and older, breakfast is available for just $1.25 and lunch can be purchased for $2.25.
Breakfast is served 7:45-8:45 a.m. and lunch is served 11 a.m.-noon Monday through Thursday at Supai Middle School, 6720 E. Continental, Scottsdale.
Additionally, breakfast is served 8-9 a.m. and lunch is served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Sierra Vista Academy, 7501 E. Oak St., Scottsdale.
Both locations close Friday, July 3 for Independence Day. Supai Middle School will continue serving meals through June 26.
Students who visit the middle school for breakfast and lunch can then receive both meals for free at nearby Sierra Vista Academy after that date.
The summer food program does not require proof of income, and Scottsdale Unified School District officials do not keep track of who takes advantage of the program, said Patti Bilbrey, the district’s nutritional services department operations manager.
While the free breakfast and lunch program is open to all children up to 18 years old regardless of income or social status — there’s not always a financial need; sometimes working parents need such a resource for their children — Ms. Bilbrey said it’s fair to say many children from low-income families take advantage of the program.
Ms. Bilbrey stressed that the summer program isn’t just for children who qualify for free- and reduced-price lunches.
It’s intended to make sure all children get nutritious meals during the summer, the same goal the school nutrition program strives for during the school year, she said.
The handouts stop short of anything further than free breakfast and lunches. Despite SUSD officials seeing a number of familiar faces every day, Ms. Bilbrey said administrators have not seen any problems regarding any serious medical or neglect issues from non-attentive parents.
She said such problems do not occur during the summer, although administrators can deal with such issues during the school year.
“However, if we were to see a student or have a student approach us, we would definitely talk to a social worker to see how we could help,” she said.
Children attending summer enrichment or remedial classes, as well as those involved with city of Scottsdale youth sports leagues and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale, also receive the free meals.
“The state has really made people aware during the past few years about this program. People are recognizing the significance of the summer food service program,” Ms. Bilbrey said. “You may think that certain areas don’t have a need (for this program), but there’s really not an area that doesn’t need it.”
Ms. Bilbrey said both Supai Middle School and Sierra Vista Academy only average around 10 walk-in students for breakfast and lunch, compared to the high number of students enrolled in summer classes who also take advantage of the free or reduced-price meals.
“Although it looks underutilized, we’re still feeding a huge amount of kids through our summer programs,” she said.
Each day, both schools combined serve on average 750 children for breakfast and between 850 and 900 children for lunch, which has remained consistent since last year.
Ms. Bilbrey said she expects those numbers to increase next year as SUSD is expected to partner with Scottsdale Healthcare to promote the program, as well as reach out to other children and teens who need or might enjoy a free meal.
Both Supai Middle School and Sierra Vista Academy have a number of students who take advantage of free and reduced lunch during each school year.
Supai Middle School, which enrolls approximately 550 students, offers free and reduced lunch to 66 percent of its students, while Sierra Vista Academy, home to approximately 128 students, offers free and reduced lunch to 62 percent of its students.
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