Free meals are back for Houston County youth this summer. Where can you find them?
The Houston County School District kicked off its annual summer feeding program Tuesday, which now offers three options for all children 18 and under to receive free meals this year.
Daily walk-in meal service will be provided at three school locations, seven vans will serve meals in eligible neighborhoods and three new USDA-approved locations will provide prepackaged bulk meals for families to pick up, according to school officials.
Lauren Koff, nutrition dietitian for the Houston County School District, said that the many options serve as the most convenient methods for families that rely on the program when school is out.
“We feed tens of thousands of kids throughout the school year, and we are just proud that we can offer this service and continue to fill that gap in the summertime for the two months when they’re not in school,” Koff said.
Perry native Hannah Singleton began using the summer feeding program to feed her seven children in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She’s been looking forward to the financial help every year since then.
Although the summer program has seven mobile routes that deliver meals in areas like north Warner Robins and Centerville, Singleton said her family lives in a rural area where the vans don’t run.
“We live about 12 miles from town. So being able to go in once a week and pick them up at the schools in bulk is the best option for my family,” she said.
Singleton said the best part about the meals is that they come with milk, juice, vegetables, fruit and an entree — a nutritious boost for her children who are involved in extracurricular activities when school is out.
In addition to the no-cost meals, Singleton said she also appreciates how the program allows her children to continue contact with school campuses during the summer.
“I enjoy being able to continue the presence of school throughout the summer, and I think it’s beneficial for the kids to have interaction with the staff, see familiar faces and make connections year-round,” she said. “We support the feeding program, and they support us.”
Because the program is federally funded, Koff said it allows the district to serve any child who is 18 and under. That includes 3-year-olds who are not in school yet and homeschooled students, she added.
“There’s even kids out here who may not necessarily be enrolled in Houston County, but we provide meals for them,” Koff said.
The school district has over 30,000 kids enrolled during the school year. The summer feeding program is reaching around 22,000 of those children through breakfast and lunch during the school year, Koff said.
“Clearly there is a need for a meal, and we know there’s a desire that kids participate in this program,” she said. “We all know groceries are creeping up on there on the budget. So, we’re happy to help.”
Where are the service locations?
On-site daily meals will be offered at Huntington Middle School, Northside High School and Perry High School from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and noon.
Seven mobile routes throughout Houston County neighborhoods will serve children who are unable to access one of the three school sites. One van will run through each of the following areas: Bonaire, North Warner Robins, East Warner Robins, Central Warner Robins, Northside High area, Centerville and Perry.
The routes will be similar to past years with the addition of a route near Feagin Mill Middle School, according to school officials. The van schedules can be found on the HCSD nutrition program’s Facebook page.
Parents can pick up prepackaged meal packs at Bonaire Middle School, Northside Elementary School and Langston Road Primary. The meals will be served through the bus or car rider lane every Thursday between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Children do not have to be present at the time of meal pick up.
Daily meals and mobile routes will end on July 19, and the bulk pick-up services will end on July 18.
The school district will be closed on June 19, July 4 and July 5.
Families who are interested in receiving free meals can check the Houston County School Nutrition Program’s webpage for more information.
