LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Monday, Jefferson County Public Schools served its two millionth summer meal, all of which have been free.
What You Need To Know
- JCPS serves two millionth free meal
- Meals paid for by USDA
- Free meal program will end unless JCPS receives federal waiver
- Without waiver, only children enrolled at JCPS and qualified for Free and Reduced Lunch would be eligible
“Our average Monday and Wednesday is 530," Cindy Belew told Spectrum News 1 at Luhr Elementary School. Luhr is one of 131 meal pick-up sites in the district. Families pick up meals twice a week, including several meals for each child.
“You just don’t understand, it’s really helped them nutritionally with more fruits, more vegetables, it’s really just been a big, big help," Deborah Allen said. Allen picks up meals for three of her grandchildren.
The summer meals are free and paid for by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), but as the new school year approaches, the program is ending unless the district receives a federal waiver. At that point, only children enrolled at a JCPS school and qualified for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program would be eligible for meals.
“So this is going to be very different. We have served lots of children in this community who are not old enough to be enrolled in school," Julia Boucher said. Boucher is the Director of Nutrition Services for JCPS. Essentially, if the USDA Summer Meals program ends, there will be more children who will no longer be able to receive meals.
Beginning Aug. 25, families will need a barcode for each enrolled student to receive meals at any pick-up location. Schools will be sending those barcodes out or registering students onsite during meal pick-ups.
“I would like to encourage the USDA and the federal government to continue to provide us with that waiver so we can continue to provide all children under 18 with our summer feeding program," JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio said Monday.