GREENFIELD — Children may be enjoying the lazy days of summer, but many of the “lunch ladies” at Greenfield-Central schools are working as hard as ever — preparing and serving thousands of meals through the school district’s summer lunch program.
The local federally funded program had already served 17,320 meals as of Thursday afternoon, compared to 9,697 meals served throughout the entire summer last year.
That puts the program on track to serve over 150% more meals this year than last.
Friday marked the halfway point for the weekday summer meal program, which started June 2 and runs through July 18, except for the Fourth of July.
“This year will be our best year yet,” said LeDonna Hood, summer meals coordinator for Greenfield-Central’s Department of Food Services. “The last time we saw a rise in participation was during the pandemic.”
On Thursday, Candy Miller brought her three granddaughters to the Splash Pad at the Kathy Dowling Aquatic Center in Greenfield, where the girls enjoyed calzones and apple slices — courtesy of the summer food program — before splashing around in the water.
“I think this program is a wonderful idea,” said the Greenfield woman, as her granddaughters cooled off with some chocolate milk under the shade of a patio table.
Milk is a staple of the summer meal giveaway, along with hot entrees and a variety of fruits and vegetables, which rotate each day.
Jessica Torres, a local teacher who is transferring to Weston Elementary this year, said her three children love picking up the school-supplied lunches throughout the summer.
“The kids get super excited about it. They love the food, and it keeps them on a routine. It also keeps them eating healthy,” said Torres, whose children make a habit of trading each other for their favorite foods.
“My son takes all of the vegetables, and my youngest one takes the fruit,” she said Wednesday while picking up lunches in the drive-through behind Greenfield Central Junior High School.
Students need not be present for parents to pick up meals at the junior high school, but they must be present to receive meals at the other two sites — Greenfield-Central High School and the aquatic center in Riley Park.
The Grab-N-Go lunch sacks at the junior high school include breakfast for the following day. Breakfast is also served in person from 7:30-8:30 a.m. weekdays.
The summer food program also serves meals to children enrolled in programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Hancock County, Greenfield Parks’ Kids Kamp and the Alpha & Omega program at Trinity Park Church.
Meals are also served for a two-week period at J.B. Stephens Elementary School, for children attending preschool there or taking the iREAD test.
Hood said the local summer meal program was started 10 years ago with just one location and two staff members.
She now runs a staff of 22 “incredible, hard-working individuals” who prepare the meals at the junior high school each morning before handing them out at the various pickup locations.
The free meal program — known as Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids, or SUN Programs — was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to help fill the gap for families during the summer months.
Only school districts with more than 50% of students eligible for the free or reduced lunch program during the school year qualify to run the program.
Greenfield-Central is the only such school system in Hancock County, but it serves all children ages 1-18, no matter where they live.
Hood said the Grab-n-Go site at the junior high school is extremely popular with parents this year.
The drive-through site makes it easy for parents to swing by and pick up meals, she said, which are delivered right to their car.
Hood said she’s gotten a lot of positive feedback each year from parents who express their gratitude for help with feeding children all summer long.
“We are very humbled to be a part of such a great service to our community,” said Hood, who thinks a number of factors may have contributed to the record level of participation this year.
“Whether it be due to the cost of living on the rise, lack of proper resources for families, or quite simply, a need for a hot meal in their bellies … all children need nutritious meals during the summer months while school is not in session,” she said.
Erin Sharp, who serves meals at the splash pad this summer, knows firsthand just how helpful the free lunch program can be.
“I’ve raised four kids myself, and I know the cost of feeding them throughout the summer. We’re happy to be able to help out,” she said.
Even with record numbers of meals served so far this month, Hood said her staff is prepared to continue serving children all summer long, no matter how many show up each day.
Federal funding increases as the number of meals increases, she said.
“If there is (a limit), we have not hit it yet,” Hood said with a smile.
“We have had to make some minor count adjustments and menu item changes due to a lack of supply on some food items, but nothing we cannot handle on our end,” Hood said. “If there were substitutions made to the planned menu, an appropriate item was given in its place so the child received their full meal.”
To view locations and menus, which are subject to change, visit the school’s summer lunch program webpage.