CCISD serves thousands of meals during first days of free summer feeding
By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove Independent School District started their annual Summer Feeding Program last week and have served more than 2,000 lunches to kids of all ages across seven feeding sites.
The school district participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture. Any school district that has more than 50 percent of its students on the free and reduced lunch plan is mandated to offer a summer feeding program as well. The Texas Department of Agriculture reimburses the district for each kid’s meal.
“It’s not as much as during the school year, but it offsets,” Bryan said. “As long as we break even, we’re good because we’ve helped the kids in the community.”
Kids’ meals are free for children ages 18 and under for both breakfast and lunch. For adults looking to eat with their child, breakfast trays are $2.50 and lunch trays are $4.
Since the 2019 Summer Feeding program started, CCISD has served 1,392 breakfasts and 2,657 lunches across the seven sites, according to Melissa Bryan, the Child Nutrition and Warehouse Services Director.
Bryan invites parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and other family members to bring the children in their life to the feeding sites, even if they aren’t a student.
“Let us help you and your household budget save some money,” Bryan said.
The food served through the summer feeding program is leftover inventory from each campus from which the summer menus are built around, to reduce waste and keep the familiar meals for the kids. This also helps the district so that the food for the next school year will be freshly ordered inventory, Bryan said. The vegetables are always fresh or frozen, with canned items only served if there is no fresh or frozen inventory.
Thursday’s lunch at Williams/Ledger Elementary was chicken nuggets with carrots, broccoli, fruit and a rice crispy treat and white or chocolate milk as well as water.
Current CCISD students, with paperwork already filed showing food sensitivities, are able to have meals specially made for them. For children who aren’t enrolled but do have sensitivities or allergies, parents can request paperwork to take to their pediatrician detailing allergies and bring back to the feeding site in order for their child to have a specially made meal.
In addition to students in summer school and parents bringing their kids, local churches and daycares and Vacation Bible School programs are also welcome to bring children to any of the feeding sites. They are advised to call ahead so that the Child Nutrition staff know exactly how many meals to prepare.
The CCISD Summer Feeding sites include:
J.L. Williams/ Lovett Ledger Elementary School at 905 Courtney Lane, with breakfast from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., from now 5 through June 28 and July 9 through July 26.
Copperas Cove Junior High School at 702 Sunny Ave, with breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from now 5 through June 28.
Copperas Cove High School at 400 S. 25th St, with breakfast from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from now through June 28.
The Copperas Cove ASYMCA at 501 Clara Drive, with lunch only from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from now through June 28 and July 9 through July 26.
The ASYMCA at Copperas Cove City Park at 1204 Ave B, Building D, with breakfast from 8:00 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from now to June 28 and July 9 through July 26.
The Copperas Cove Public Library at 501 S. Main St, with lunch only from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., from now to June 28 and July 9 through July 26.
Fairview Community Church at 1202 Veterans Ave, with breakfast from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., from now to June 28 and July 9 to July 26.