There is such a thing as a free lunch

By: Sharon McBrayer | Morganton News Herald
Published: June 24, 2009

Morganton --

Summer break for many kids means more time to play and no homework.
For others, it may also mean fewer meals.
But Burke County Public Schools, the state and the USDA are trying to fill the gap.
Three schools in Burke County participate in the Summer Food Service Program, which is administered by the state.
That means that any child under the age of 18 can receive a free lunch at any of the participating schools. While the program is set up at the schools' child care program, any child, regardless of whether they participate in the child care program or not and regardless of ability to pay, can take advantage of the free meals, said Cynthia Ervin, Summer Food Service Program coordinator for the state.
The three schools are Liberty Middle, located on Enola Road in Morganton, Drexel Primary, located on Alta Vista Street in Drexel, and East Burke Middle, located on Miller Bridge Road in Icard.
Lunches at the schools are served from 1 until 1:30 p.m., said Crystal Cooper, child nutrition director for Burke County Public Schools.
While any child can eat for free, a parent or guardian can eat with the child but has to pay the regular meal price of $3, Cooper said.
"We just want to be a positive part of the community in offering the service to students through the summer because lots of times they may not have access to a balanced meal," Cooper said.
The Burke County school system has been involved with the program for at least 15 years, Cooper said.
Last summer, the system served 20,633 meals, at a cost of $73,004.71. That includes serving the summer day cares at schools in the county.
The school system pays the cost up front and then the state reimburses it with funds from the USDA, Ervin said.
Ervin, who called the program under-utilized, said it's not just school systems that can sponsor the program. She said any nonprofit, government entity or public organization can be a sponsor. And more sponsors are needed, Ervin said.
A sponsor, Ervin said, takes financial and administrative responsibility for a program site. A sponsor is reimbursed for the cost, she said.

There is such a thing as a free lunch

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