Free breakfast and lunch will be available to Watauga County children and youth ages 18 and under through a summer feeding program at Green Valley School on Mondays through Thursdays from June 22 through July 16. A free breakfast will be provided between 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. and a free lunch between 12:00-1:00 p.m. for anyone 18 or under who comes to the school cafeteria accompanied by a parent or other adult.
The program will only operate at Green Valley School but is open to children residing in any part of Watauga County.
Children need to be transported to the site by a parent or guardian and the parent or guardian must remain with their children while they eat. Unattended children cannot be dropped off at the site and will not be served. The meals must be consumed at the school; “take out” orders are not available. Adults will be able to purchase breakfast for $2.00 or lunch for $3.50, or can bring their own meal to eat with their children. The meals served will be similar to those served during the regular school year, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer this support to local families and we encourage them to make use of the service ,” said Superintendent Dr. Scott Elliott. “We know that many families rely on school meals to keep their children well nourished during the school year. Offering the same service in the summer months is a great way to help ensure these students will return to school healthy and ready to learn when classes resume in August.”
No application or approval process is required for children to receive the free meals. “All they need to do is show up with an adult, wash their hands, and go through the line to be served,” said School Nutrition Director Monica Bolick.
Bolick commented that she “hopes the program will help a lot of children in families that need assistance to keep everyone fed. If there is enough participation, we could keep offering the service for several weeks after the end of reading camp.”
Green Valley was chosen to host the summer feeding program because it is also the site of the Watauga County Schools summer reading camp for third graders. All children attending the camp will be offered free breakfast and lunch, with no application required.