YUBA CITY — About 500 students came out for a free summer meal in Yuba City on Wednesday, as the school district proactively works to make sure kids are fed all summer while school is out.
While much of the food provided is locally grown, the ultimate goal is to create a district farm that will completely feed students during the school and summer holidays.
The Yuba City Unified School District has launched an unusual summer lunch program that’s part of a larger effort to get kids excited about nutrition and where their food comes from.
“They’re reminded of school, they’re eating lunch there, they’re having fun,” said Stephanie Kraus, a mother in the Yuba City Unified School District. “They get to choose their own food and participate in a variety of activities.”
The district is providing free meals to children Monday through Friday this summer, and the kickoff event involved children participating in a mock farmers market.
“The kids go to our resource market where we have Farmers Market Dollars, and they each get $2 for one fruit and one vegetable and go shopping,” said Chelsea Slattery, the district’s nutrition services director.
Though the program is only in its second year, the district says it has already doubled in size, highlighting the need for summer meals in the area.
“In a normal school year, we provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, so the majority of students who eat with us are getting the majority of their nutrition at school,” Slattery said.
The Yuba City Unified School District has a district-wide community eligibility provision that qualifies all students for free meals, and while there is no income verification, the numbers show that 78% of students qualify for free or reduced meals.
“The price of everything continues to go up, so this is a great way to make sure kids are getting the nutrition they need,” Kraus said.
Wider The ultimate goal is to create a farm for the entire district. It’s meals that can feed students both during school and during the summer holidays, and in the meantime, the district wants to make summer meals fun and exciting.
“There’s no stigma attached to this event,” Slattery said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s free or not, it’s just about going out and being part of the community and participating.”
Other community partners, such as the Yuba City Food Bank and libraries, are also on board, providing resources and information to families in need. There are several options and locations for summer meal programs this year, so check the website to see which one meets your needs.
