Local Summer Food Service program a success in first week

Kennett High School students and Summer Food Service Program workers Rachel Dye, back, and Carson Wood, center, serve lunches at the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center on Wednesday. Staff photo by George Anderson

After a week of operation, the Summer Food Service Program continues to go strong, providing nutritious meals for area youth and eligible disabled.

According to Program Director Mary Winston, the program started serving the Holcomb, Campbell, Clarkton, and Senath schools this week and will add the Kennett and Gideon schools on Monday, June 8.

"So far, it has been going exceptionally well," Winston said, adding that the program has served over 5,000 lunches and 3,000 breakfasts since beginning on Tuesday, May 26. "I am real pleased."

"I think we have been serving about 150 lunches per day at [the Jones' Park location]," Winston said, indicating that the move from Oaklawn Circle to Jones Park has worked out well.

Another good location has been the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center, according to Winston.

"We ran out of food at the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center on Tuesday," Winston said.

According to Winston, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) helps kids get the vital nutrition they need when school is out.

"It's a lot of work, but it is so worthwhile," Winston said. "It is truly amazing. I've got such a great group of young men and women."

The program, which is available to children under the age of 18, and eligible disabled, provides food in an effort to help keep children growing strong and healthy throughout the summer.

Lunches will be provided to all children and qualified adults beginning on Tuesday, May 26, and continuing Monday through Friday, until July 17.

Lunches will be served at the following Kennett locations:

* Abiding Peace Church;

* Baker Mills;

* Compress Courts;

* Delmo Park;

* Jones Park (Changed from Oaklawn);

* John Deere Park;

* Los Amigos (South end of Scout Park);

* Riggs Alley, and;

* Sheryl Crow Aquatic Park.

The Summer Food Service Program is available through the United States Department of Agriculture and is the single largest Federal resource available for local sponsors who want to combine a feeding program with a summer activity program.

The program is coordinated by Winston and Assistant Director Gail Payne.

For more information on SFSP, call (573) 717-1130 or (573) 344-0172.