Summer food service program begins June 18

Beginning June 18, all Brunswick County children younger than 18 years old can receive a free breakfast and lunch five days a week for eight weeks.

Jessica Swencki, Brunswick County Schools spokeswoman, said the program is a collaboration between the school system and Brunswick Family Assistance (BFA), which will sponsor the summer food service program.

There are no income eligibility requirements to receive the meals—it is open to all children in the county, Swencki said.

“Brunswick Family Assistance is sponsoring the summer food service program and will receive reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for program costs. Brunswick County Schools Child Nutrition Department will prepare the meals,” Swencki said.

“The summer food service program was established to ensure that all children could continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session. Free meals, that meet federal nutrition guidelines, are provided to all children under 18 years old at approved summer food service sites,” Swencki said.

Meals will be served for eight consecutive weeks, Mondays through Fridays, from June 18 through Aug. 17, except for July 4.

Doors will be open for breakfast from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Breakfast will be a “grab and go,” while lunch will be a hot meal, Swencki said. Lunch hours will be 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Breakfast menus include fruit, milk, cereal and muffins.

Lunch menus include milk, chicken, corn, spiced apples, milk, Philly beef and cheese, sweet potatoes, pears, peaches, pasta, green beans, cheese, celery, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, tacos, broccoli, pineapple, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, barbecue sandwiches and more.

Organizers need at least 25 kids a day to participate at each site to keep the sites open for the community, Swencki said.

Food will be prepared at Lincoln Elementary, Supply Elementary and Union Elementary schools and taken to the nine service sites.

School sites include Lincoln, Supply, Union and Belville Elementary schools and Waccamaw School. Community sites include Bible Baptist Church, Creative Solutions, Davis Chapel, Planet Fun Family Center, St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church and The Kids Connection.

“We really want all kids to take advantage of this,” Swencki said.

Depending on participation, BFA officials may add additional sites, Swencki said.

For more information contact Brunswick Family Assistance Program Manager Lora Moree at 754-4766 or lorabfa@gmail.com.

Caroline Curran is a staff writer at The Brunswick Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or ccurran@brunswickbeacon.com.