By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
School has ended for the year, and while students move toward long summer days engaged in youthful adventures, those days will not be fun-filled for some.
Instead, many will face hunger as they lose access to breakfast and lunches provided by the district.
And so, to ensure those in need are provided with at least one meal a day, the Hays USD 489 school district will once again run the free summer lunch program. The program runs from May 31 to July 29 at Roosevelt Elementary, 2000 MacArthur, weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All children under 18 years of age are eligible for the meals.
No information is required, and it is open to all children — even if they do not attend Hays schools.
“We can serve kids driving through on interstate who live in California,” said Jessica Younker, USD 489 Nutrition Services director. “We don’t check IDs. We don’t ask names. We don’t ask how much income. There’s no sign-up. You just show up.
“We know it’s such a hardship to feed the kids, especially well-balanced, healthy meals over the summer when they’re home. So we provide that for the community. And we’re excited to do that.”
After two years of program modifications to accommodate COVID pandemic protocols, this year the program will return to dining-in for the children and their adult guardians.
“It’s been in our community for several years, even before COVID and COVID changed things a little bit. And now we’re transitioning back to the normal operation of the program,” Younker said. “We got a lot of flexibility the last two years, and I know it’s been a huge benefit to a lot more people.”
As the program is government-funded, returning to normal operations was required by the district, she said.
“There are especially specific rules we have to follow, and the children will need to be present to eat,” Younker said.
A takeout option will be available, however.
“They have to come inside to pick it up,” Younker said. “We will have to-go boxes available for them to take it with them if they do not want to eat on-site. ... It’s kind of a meet in the middle.”
But having most of the meals inside allows for fresher food and more options, she said.
“We are able to provide a better quality meal, doing it in person,” Younker said. “They come to get their entrees nice and fresh right out of the hot holding table. And then they get to go through our salad bar, which is going to have a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. And then a variety of sides and everything, and then they get to sit down.
“We’re excited to provide a much better product and a much better service,” she continued, “and just some other kind of some other random things throughout the summer that our staff is excited to do to try to draw more kids in and get them excited about coming to eat a meal and not just picking it up and leaving.”
Guardians can partake with the children for $4 per meal.
“It’s a nice-sized meal, and you get to go through the salad bar and get all the same fresh options as the kids,” Younker said. “Parents can come, or if the kids are old enough to come and be responsible, we hope they walk and ride their bikes and come eat.”
For more information about the USD 489 summer lunch program, including menus, visit the USD 489 website, USD489.com.
