BPS to provide free lunches in June

May 30, 2011

Luke Dickinson and Erik Gonzalez have fun while eating lunch together in the school cafeteria. Photo provided

BREMEN – Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?
On weekdays during the month of June, Bremen Public Schools is providing just that – free lunch – to all children age 1 through 18. 
“Bremen Public Schools feels it is very important for a child to get a healthy meal,” said Hope Andrews, food services director for BPS. “This summer program will help children get just that.”
The Summer Food Service Program is a federal program that provides nutritious meals to children when National School Lunch meals are not available. The program reimburses organizations like Bremen Public Schools that prepare and serve meals to children during summer and school vacations.
“In the future we hope to open it up to adults, at a cost, and to add a breakfast program for the kids,” Andrews said.
For now, the serving line in the K-8 cafeteria will be open weekdays from June 6 to June 30, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
“The children can just show up and get in line,” explained Andrews. “This is for ages 1-18 and it is not based on income. It’s open to every child.”
Andrews said day cares and summer camps are welcome to bring children for lunch as well. 
Children should enter through the north doors of the K-8 building. Meals must be eaten in the cafeteria and children are asked to leave when they are finished. This allows for clean-up, to prepare for the next child coming through. 
Parents can accompany their children, but they are not permitted to eat from a child’s tray. 
Lunch will follow meal pattern requirements established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Each meal will include a serving of milk, a serving of meat or meat alternate, a serving of bread or bread alternate, along with two servings of fruit and/or vegetables.
Annually, more than two million children per day are served meals through the Summer Food Service Program. 
Questions may be directed to Hope Andrews at 574-546-3554 ext. 2021, weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.