Summer food service offers free lunches

By Renee Simpson
St. Charles Parish children 18 years of age and under can receive a free hot meal in June and July through the annual Summer Food Service Program.

From June 8 through July 16, lunches will be available at Albert Cammon Middle School in St. Rose, Luling Elementary in Luling and E.J. Landry Alternative School in Hahnville from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

In 2008, the service provided over 8,000 meals, a 25 percent increase over 2007. This data shows there is a great need for this service, as over 53 percent of St. Charles Parish Head Start and Public School children receive free and/or reduced lunches, Community Services Director Maurya Glaude said.

The program, now in its 19th year, is co-sponsored by the St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services and the Louisiana Department of Education. The St. Charles Parish School System and St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office are also project partners.

The feeding sites coincide with summer camps sponsored by the St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation. There is no registration or fee to participate in the Summer Food Service Program, however, the deadline to sign up for Recreation's summer camp program is May 15. Applications are available online at www.stcharlesparish-la.gov.

Free bus transportation is also available to all school sites. Pickup time is 11:15 a.m. unless noted otherwise. Bus stops are listed below. If any other stops are needed, parents may notify the coordinator at (985) 764-7944.
For more information on the Summer Food Service Program, call (985) 764-7944.