Summer school meals provided for all kids

A new summer meal program will give kids free meals from Sweetwater County School District No. 2.

Linda Martin, food service director for the district, said the district will provide free breakfasts and lunches to any child between ages two and 18 living within Sweetwater County, not just those within the district’s boundaries. The program is the result of collaboration between the district and local Housing and Urban Development-sponsored housing on Bridger Avenue. Martin said representatives from HUD wanted to initiate the program and contacted her for assistance.

The district will provide the free lunches from June 1 through Aug. 7, with lunches being served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Breakfasts won’t start until June 16 and will be served from 7:30-8:30 a.m. The second location offering free meals to children and teens, the community room at 1400 Bridger Drive, will serve meals starting June 1 until Aug. 28. Breakfast will be served from 8-9 a.m. while lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m.

Martin said the meals will be provided with no questions asked. She said the program is based on census results and noted Expedition Academy would have qualified due to the higher rate of reduced-price lunches served at the school. However, the new school doesn’t have furniture in its cafeteria, halting the program’s expansion to that school.