CRESTVIEW — Schools are out for the summer, but many lunchrooms are open for Okaloosa County Schools’ Summer Feeding Program. The federally funded program bridges the gap between the school year and summer break by continuing to provide breakfast and lunch for children.
The program assures that youth participants under 18 years old receive a nutritious meal, organizers said. Meals include a sandwich wrap for lunch or a bowl of cereal or pastry for breakfast. Each meal includes a serving of fruit or vegetables along with milk or juice, per program guidelines.
Keep reading to see full program schedule.
"There are a lot of (children) that are not getting nourishment during the summer; a lot of them don't even get nourishment during the school year," said Richard Norris, the school district’s food services department specialist who oversees the program. Sodexo Inc. provides foods and services.
At least 50 percent of children in an area must qualify for free or reduced-price meals for locations to be approved. More children have used the program over the past several years, particularly after the recession, Norris said.
The program assures all children will be provided for, should a location run out of meals, Larry Haile, a general manager with Sodexo, said.
"We can transfer meals from site to site," he said. "If they are willing to wait 10 to 15 minutes, we can provide them for them."
Baker and Laurel Hill schools are offering the program, as are several Crestview schools, including Davidson Middle School, Riverside Elementary School and Southside Center. The Crestview Family YMCA, Central Baptist Church and the Carver-Hill Community Center also participate.
June 17-28
Davidson Middle School, 6261 Old Bethel Road, Crestview: 7:15 a.m., and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
June 17 through July 25
Laurel Hill School, 8078 4th St., Laurel Hill: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 17-28, and July 15-26.
June 18 through July 25
Northwood Elementary School, 501 4th Ave., Crestview: 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 18-27, and July 9-25.
Weekdays through Aug. 9
Antioch Elementary School,4700 Whitehurst Lane, Crestview: 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Carver-Hill Community Center, 461 School Ave., Crestview: 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Central Baptist Church of Crestview, 951 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Crestview Family YMCA, 298 N. Wilson St., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Riverside Elementary School, 3400 E. Redstone Ave., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Shoal River Learning Center, 5190 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview: 8-8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Shoal River Middle School, 3200 Redstone Ave., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 12-1 p.m.
Southside Center, 650 S. Pearl St., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Walker Elementary School,2988 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Summer Feeding Program serving north Okaloosa children