STACY GOSS
USD 308
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Feeding hungry kids in Reno County was no small feat this year.
Jennifer Tatro, Director of Nutrition, says the summer 2023 lunch program has ended with record numbers. “This summer we served over 66,000 meals.” The summer meals are provided through a federally funded program and are served at no cost to families.
“We employ roughly 20 staff members. The meals are prepared at HMS-7 and then they are transported to the various sites”, said Tatro. There were three sites in Hutchinson manned by the Hutchinson Public Schools USD 308 Nutrition team. Those sites were HMS-7, Fairgrounds Splash Pad, and the Hutchinson Public Library. Meals were served grab-n-go style over the lunch hour on weekdays during the months of June and July, ending July 28th.
The summer meals are provided through a federally funded program and are served at no cost to families. Some families and organizations choose to donate funds during the summer. These funds are pooled together to reduce the school meal debts owed from the previous school year. “The Reno County community has come together and we can proudly say that 100% of the school meal debt from last year has been covered. All USD 308 students will start the year with a clean slate,” Tatro said.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1946.
Families may choose to share their free or reduced-price meal status and receive additional services. In addition to free or reduced-price meals, families are eligible for discounted internet access, reduced textbook fees, reduced career and technical assessment fees, as well as waived college application fees. Children may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals based on household income and family size. Children may be determined “categorically eligible” for free meals through participation in certain Federal Assistance Programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or based on their status as a homeless, migrant, runaway or foster child. The USDA increased income guidelines for free-and reduced-price school lunches to reflect inflation, making it possible for more families to qualify.
“We encourage all families to complete the Free or Reduced Meal application during their enrollment process. Every year I hear from families that qualified for assistance when they didn’t think they were eligible. You can complete the form during online enrollment or in person at your school.” Tatro said.
Includes information from: https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/nslp-fact-sheet.
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