Serving the nutritional needs of children in the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is the goal of the Nutritional Services Department. And summer is no exception. Once again this summer, the department is offering free meals to eligible youth as part of its Summer Food Service Program.
The goal of the program is to make food available to children in the community during a time when many of them may not have access to healthy meals. Offerings include breakfast, lunch and snacks for children ages 1-18. The meals are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as part of its Summer Food Service Program initiative.
Meals will be available in many areas throughout the Wyandotte County area, during the months of June and July, and August at some sites. Community members, whether enrolled in the district or not, can take advantage of these meals at a site near them. A listing of all the Summer Meals sites is available online at http://kckps.org/index.php/summer-menus.
The purpose of the Summer Food Service Program is to battle food insecurity in the community and state. Last summer, Nutritional Services provided more than 82,000 meals throughout the summer months, to children in the district and the community.
Food insecurity is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Wyandotte County has the highest percentage of food insecurity in Kansas at 19.2 percent, reflecting that more than 30,000 people are unsure of where their next meal is coming from. KCKPS’ Nutritional Services Department is charged with providing meals to school aged children, especially targeting areas in which there may be little access to healthy and nutritious food.
All questions related to the Summer Food Service Program can be directed to the Nutritional Services main phone number, 913-627-3910.
– Story from Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools