Ephrata Schools seeks feedback on summer food program
EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District is looking for community input on expanding its free summer meal program. Results of a recently launched, online survey will guide whether the district will provide grab-and-go meals for children seven days a week during the summer.
If approved, the program would offer families an opportunity, twice a week, to pick up packaged meals that feed children breakfast and lunch for three or four days. Families that picked up meals on both days would receive enough food for breakfast and lunch seven days a week. This new summer meal program would be in addition to the district’s existing program that offers breakfast and lunch on-site during the summer.
Funding for the program comes from a change to the USDA’s Summer Meal Service that allows certain, rural areas to distribute nutritious meals to kids outside of the typically required group, or congregate, settings.
To provide input on this new opportunity, families should take the survey available at EphrataSchools.org. Feedback will be taken through Sunday, April 28.
Regardless of the results of the survey, the Ephrata School District plans to continue its efforts to provide free meals on-site at two of its facilities. Starting Monday, June 17 and continuing through Thursday, July 25, breakfast and lunch will be served at Ephrata High School and Columbia Ridge Elementary for children 18 years and younger.
The Summer Food Service Program offered at these two facilities offer meals that are required to be consumed on-site. Meals are free to all children ages 18 years and younger, regardless of family income level.
Scheduling:
The program will be closed for distribution June 19, July 4 and July 5. Food Service locations and schedules are as follows:
Ephrata High School
333 Fourth Ave. NW
Date: June 17 to July 25
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Columbia Ridge Elementary
60 H St. SE
Date: June 17 to July 25
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.