Due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Seamless Summer Option many children spent the summer healthier and happier. The Franklin Special School District provided summer meals for the 3rd year in a row through this effort. When school is out the children that depend on the free and reduced school lunch programs have nowhere to go for food without programs like this.
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Several community agencies and charities picked up meals and delivered them to needy children beginning May 23rd, 2012. Cafeteria staff, custodians and other school employees fanned out to cover the neighborhoods which depend on this service for survival. Franklin Elementary School set the goal this year to make sure every child who needed breakfast or lunch over the summer received one. The plan allows any child under the age of 18 to receive a free meal.
Some of the children come with their parents others come with siblings or alone. “We don’t ask questions about income and we don’t judge parents. We just want to make sure that every child who comes to us leaves with a nutritious meal in hand,” said FSSD Child Nutrition Supervisor Marilyn Ryan.
“Last summer we served 5,378 breakfast meals and 21,461 lunch meals. This summer, we doubled those efforts, serving over 10,000 breakfast meals and 25,850 lunch meals,” said Marilyn Ryan, FSSD Child Nutrition Supervisor. While some the increase is due to serving more days this year, the district expanded its operation by reaching out to local non-profit community agencies that serve children in need. “The need here in Franklin is great and we are proud to be a part of this program,” said Ryan.
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Photographs by Submitted
