School nutritionists have been busy “feeding hearts” and bringing smiles to children across Bartow.
Across the school system, more than 200,000 free federally funded meals will be available over the summer to youth age 18 and under. Families do not need to pre-register to receive this meal service.
Bartow’s Summer Lunch Program
The Bartow County Schools Nutrition Summer Lunch Program began three years ago.
“BCSS’s summer meal program was launched in 2021 to address ongoing food insecurity that increased due to pandemic-related disruptions and ensure children could continue to have access to nutritious meals through the summer,” said Jessica Chandler, school nutrition specialist and wellness coordinator for BCSS. “The expansion of our nutrition department has given us the capacity to expand our community programs and increase our reach.”
“We are eager to continue this work because it keeps children healthy and ready to learn, promotes equity in education, and supports families in need, thereby strengthening our communities. Providing these meals is a critical investment in helping children thrive and a brighter future for all.”
Chandler said this year’s program is “going extremely well.”
“We are currently providing approximately 5,000 meals per day, which is a significant increase from last year’s efforts,” she said. “At this rate, we will provide approximately 160,000 meals to the county in just eight weeks, which is a significant increase from last year’s total of 32,000 meals.”
“This growth highlights the strong teamwork and cohesion between our school administration and nutrition departments, allowing us to efficiently provide nutritious meals to children in our area. This collaborative effort ensures that every meal served meets high standards of quality and nutrition, supporting the health and well-being of our students over the summer.”
As Chandler noted, the nutrition department has been ramping up operations throughout the summer to ensure this initiative is as effective as possible.
“The logistics of our summer feeding program require close coordination of multiple locations, each tailored to the needs of their community,” she said. “This year, we have expanded our operations by adding more nutritionists and school kitchens where meals are prepared. Schools such as Cass High School, Adairsville High School, Woodland High School, Red Top Middle School and Hamilton Crossing are actively involved in preparing the meals, ensuring the meals are fresh and ready for distribution to locations across the county.
“Our dedicated staff work long hours preparing meals throughout the morning and at various pick-up times and locations throughout the community. We distribute meals to numerous locations, including schools, community centers and other designated locations, making it easy for families to access. Curbside pickup is available at select schools, providing a convenient service for parents to receive meals in a safe and efficient manner.”
More details are available online at https://bartowsummerfeedingsites2024.my.canva.site
“Our summer feeding program emphasizes flexibility and versatility to meet the diverse needs of our community,” Chandler said. “Depending on the location and event, we plan both hot and cold meals, with careful consideration of storage and transportation logistics to ensure fresh quality.”
“For example, a typical hot meal might include locally grown chicken tenders, flavorful collard greens, fresh peaches, milk and a nutritious graham cracker dessert. Cold meals might include locally grown vegetables, a whole grain wrap with turkey and cheese, a fresh fruit cup, yogurt and milk. In addition to providing essential nutrients, these meals reflect our commitment to supporting local farmers and providing appealing healthy options for kids and families alike.”
In addition to helping curb food insecurity, she said summer feeding drives help students who attend “rigorous activities” like football practice and band camp.
“One heartwarming story from our community was when a family of nine reached out to us because they initially thought we were only feeding their school-age children,” Chandler says. “The mother was moved to tears when she found out our program feeds all children under the age of 18, meaning all of her children would receive the meals they needed. By providing meals, we’re not only tackling hunger, we’re also empowering young people to pursue their passions and stay strong through rigorous activities.”
Chandler said BCSS’s summer feeding program continues to produce many memorable moments.
“What I enjoy most about overseeing our summer school lunch program is seeing the joy and health benefits it brings to children and their families, especially when they incorporate fresh, local produce from our school gardens into their meals,” she says. “One of my favorite moments this year was seeing the kids’ faces as they enjoyed meals made with vegetables they grew and harvested during our summer intervention program.
“It was so rewarding to see the kids not only tasting nutritious, home-cooked meals, but also connecting them to where the food came from and learning the value of fresh, locally grown ingredients. An added highlight was hearing from parents telling us how much their kids loved the fresh salads and vegetable dishes they made from our garden. Moments like this make the program so special and remind us the importance of nourishing our community with healthy, home-grown foods. It’s uplifting to our hearts.”
Seamless Summer Options
While the Bartow County School System’s summer meal program is a more recent initiative, Cartersville City Schools’ Seamless Summer Option began more than 20 years ago.
“Summer meals at CCS began over 20 years ago to ensure students had access to food during the summer,” said Mallory Wharton, CCS School Nutrition Director. “The mission of Cartersville City Schools’ nutrition department is to ‘feed every student,’ and that doesn’t just extend to when they’re at school each day.”
“There’s no doubt that there are people in our community who are struggling with food insecurity right now, whether that’s due to lost income or rising food prices. USDA summer meal funding allows Cartersville City Schools to fill that gap for those in need. Any child under the age of 18 will be able to receive uninterrupted summer meals, regardless of their situation.”
Echoing Chandler’s comments, Wharton said he was pleased with CCS’s seamless summer options this year.
“Summer lunches are going well so far. We have developed new menus this year and have been able to provide a variety of entrées, fruits and vegetables to students who receive lunch on CPS sites. [Cartersville Primary School] or CHS [Cartersville High School] “And we also serve off-site locations like the Boys & Girls Club, J.H. Morgan, mobile routes,” Wharton said. “Right now we’re serving about 1,700 to 2,000 meals a day, which will be about 50,000 to 60,000 meals this summer.”
“We currently have 15 cafeteria assistants working this summer. Two will work in the elementary school in June and the rest will work in the high school cafeteria in June and July.”
Typically, staff start their day between 6am and 8am.
“Staff prepare and distribute breakfast, then move on to cooking and packing lunch,” Wharton said. “Unfortunately, the USDA has not extended the flexibility we’ve experienced during the pandemic, such as packing more than a day’s worth of meals.”
“But we’ve adapted well and have been able to build relationships with the kids by seeing them every day. That being said, the kids need to be there to receive meals at our facilities and on our travel routes.”
The Seamless Summer Option also operates three transportation routes with 41 stops. These transportation routes, as well as all CCS meal locations, can be found online at www.cartersvilleschools.org via the link after clicking on the “School Nutrition” department tab.
“We have a two-week menu, with a different entrée, fruit and veggie each week,” Wharton says. “Mexican food is a big hit with the kids, so one week we might have beef nachos and the next week chicken and cheese nachos. Another big hit this summer has been our French bread pizza.”
“This year, we started cutting up fresh watermelon to hand out on Mondays – the perfect treat for hot summer days. Plus, it wouldn’t be summer without a little dessert, so we provided chocolate chip cookies and rice krispie treats as a fun snack for the kids.”
Between CPS and CHS, Seamless Summer Options requires large amounts of grocery items, including the following produce on average per week — 880 pounds of whole apples, 536 pounds of carrots, 800 pounds of bananas, 150 pounds of broccoli and 150 pounds of celery.
“My favorite part about summer feeding is seeing our cafeteria staff from all four kitchens work together to serve students all summer long,” Wharton said. “Working in a kitchen during the heat of the season and serving students outside every day, come heat, rain or shine, takes a heart of service.”
“My favourite moment was when I was on a migration route with a staff member and we saw kids standing in front of their door waiting for us to come over. The driver honked the horn and the kids came running over to give the staff member a big hug. It was truly a sight to behold.”
That’s one of the most important aspects of this outreach work for Pam Mansfield, who began serving with Seamless Summer Options in 2009. She began her career in 1999 as a cafeteria assistant with Cartersville City Schools.
“We have the pleasure of providing meals to students every day throughout the school year and recognize the importance of meals and the joy they bring, especially to students who experience food insecurity at home,” she said, “So when the opportunity arose to provide meals to students over the summer, I was ready to jump in and make sure students were fed all summer long.”
“I arrive at Cartersville High School around 7:30 to start my shift, which involves preparing, cooking and packing meals to be served at each facility each day. My favorite part of the job is driving the CCS Nutrition van that packs fruits and vegetables to deliver the meals. I usually start my route at 10:40, visiting 15 locations a day from Stonewall Street to Atco Baptist, and end the day at the Dillinger Park Pool.”
Mansfield currently serves 180 to 240 meals each day.
“The job is hard and it’s hot and long outside, but feeding my kids is my top priority,” she said. “Because I drive the same route every day, I really get to know the kids I stop by, and the parents are so grateful that I’m feeding their kids, and it really helps with grocery expenses these days.”
“What really makes me happy is when at the end of the year the kids start saying, ‘Pam, what time are you coming to deliver meals to my street? I can’t wait to see you.’ That’s what gets me back in the kitchen every summer. When the kids hear me honk my horn, they come running with a smile, a hello and a hug. I see summer meals as an opportunity to serve.”
