Lunch Program Feeds Hungry Children
KSAL Staff - Thu 03:33 PM 05/31/2012
Each day of the program they are prepared to serve 1,000 lunches
A ceremonial ribbon cutting at Sunset Elementary School on Thursday officially launched a summer program in Salina that feeds hungry children. The free summer lunch program is underway.
USD 305 Food Services Director Cynthia Foley tells KSAL News that the goal of the program is very simple, to get children the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months. She says that there is a growing number of families in Salina that struggle to feed their children,
According to Foley, 58 percent of the students enrolled in USD 305 schools this past year qualified for free or reduced lunches, meaning that their families were at or near the poverty level. And she says that number keeps growing each year.
Eight sites serve a free summer lunch from 11:30 a.m. - noon, Monday through Friday. The free summer lunch program runs from this week through Friday July 20th. No meals will be served on Wednesday, July 4.
Breakfast will be served from 7:45 till 8:15 May 29 through June 29 at Cottonwood Elementary School.
The free lunches are for all children ages one through eighteen and adults are welcome to eat for $3.25. There is no fee or registration required to receive meals. This program is an equal opportunity provider.
Foley says that each day of the program they are prepared to serve 1,000 lunches.
During the 2011 summer program, 22,238 lunch meals and 3,700 breakfasts were served to Salina children at eight open sites and one enrolled site.
The Free Summer Meal serving sites are:
Heusner Elementary, 1300 Norton, northwest doors by art room
Oakdale Elementary - 811 E. Iron, west doors off Penn Street
Schilling Elementary - 3121 Canterbury, side door by gym
Sunset Elementary - 1510 W. Republic, north doors off of playground
Cottonwood Elementary - 215 S. Phillips, Baker Street entrance
Kennedy Early Learning Center - 700 Jupiter, north double doors off Venus Street
Church of the Cross - 1600 Rush, southeast door
Salvation Army - 1137 N. Santa Fe, front door
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Iamgonnagetu
Thursday 31 May 2012 19:03 Report this comment
1000 meals a day is a pretty high number. What happens to the food not used? Seems to me there could be alot of waste. I bet the 2 Ronnie's on here would be happy to take the left overs.
MidWestFarmer
Thursday 31 May 2012 20:47 Report this comment
"at or near the poverty level. And she says that number keeps growing each year. " That's because the "poverty level" is set so high. A family of four that is "poor" by the US Federal government definition has a standard of living greater than the average German family.
IamMe
Thursday 31 May 2012 21:48 Report this comment
The SNAP/Food Stamp Program, administered by the U.S.Department of Agriculture, is pleased to be distributing the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever. Meanwhile, the National Park Service, administered by theU.S. Department of the Interior, asks us to “Please Do Not Feed The Animals.” This is because the animals may grow dependent on handouts and not learn to take care of themselves.
Viper
Friday 1 June 2012 05:39 Report this comment
Over half the kids there are either Mexican, or Hispanic.
RONNIEMUR
Friday 1 June 2012 06:04 Report this comment
@Iamgo..I'm not surprised to see that you cannot comment on a topic without the useless banter about other posters. @ Iamme, these children are not wild animals, so your comparison is less than fitting.
yonofui
Friday 1 June 2012 07:17 Report this comment
Wow Viper - i bet your kids are the first ones in line though - free hand out!
Iamgonnagetu
Friday 1 June 2012 08:04 Report this comment
Ronniemur where the heck are you coming up with wild animals? Have you finally failed to be able to give insight on what to do with the wasted food.
Iamgonnagetu
Friday 1 June 2012 08:08 Report this comment
Viper they are 95% of the people not feeding their kids. That is part of their culture in Mexico. Kids fend for themselves. Just take a trip down there and it is so evident.
RONNIEMUR
Saturday 2 June 2012 07:40 Report this comment
@Iamgo...read Iamme's comment, then read the portion of my comment directed at him/her and you should be able to follow.
Iamgonnagetu
Saturday 2 June 2012 14:26 Report this comment
So what are you going to do with the left over food? As to the other comments whether compared to whatever it is true. If people are given everything why work or do anything else? Research how many billions are spent on people with their hands out coming from homes with parents that had their hands out then comment on what you found.
RONNIE
Saturday 2 June 2012 16:02 Report this comment
@Iamg..ask the program coordinator what they do with any leftovers. Ask the welfare office about welfare statistics. Children are not wild animals, no comparison. Are you ever going to comment on the topic when addressing me other than asking me to look up your statistics? That's plain laziness.
RONNIE
Saturday 2 June 2012 16:02 Report this comment
By the way, your welcome for correcting you.
IamMe
Saturday 2 June 2012 16:18 Report this comment
Ronnie since you are the researcher of the bunch, show us some stats that show parents become responsible after getting a handout. No they are not animals, but they sure are depending on a handout.
RONNIE
Saturday 2 June 2012 19:02 Report this comment
Wow, this rhetoric is so childish. I told you where to look for the information you want to know. If you want me to back up something I've stated I have welcomed that you ask, but asking for statistics for something I haven't stated is like asking for "the price of rice in China". You can find stats on your own if I didn't make the claim...children are depending on a handotut? They sure are. Children expect that adults tend to their basic needs, adults expect the same and if their parents can't or won't do it, responsible adults should step up as they have by putting in place his program.
IamMe
Saturday 2 June 2012 21:59 Report this comment
Ronnie, thank you! You did answer my question. Welfare and free lunches is growing in Salina. Once on, never off.The price of rice in China is easy to find. If your children are gonna be dependent on a handout,then do not have them, that is child abuse. You ronnie enable child abuse. Now once again ronnie, show some facts that people on welfare get off welfare. I bet you have none.
IamMe
Saturday 2 June 2012 22:01 Report this comment
Oh by the way, asking parents to be adults and be responsible for their children, yea that is childish! Ronnie stand in the corner and plead the welfare fifth.
RONNIEMUR
Saturday 2 June 2012 22:40 Report this comment
Again,Iamme,the rhetoric about stats is childish. You want stats, go to your local welfare representative and ask. You obviously haven't heard the "price of rice in China" term, so I won't bother. Feeding hungry kids is not abuse. Your semantics are so tired concerning this issue and I really wish you would follow the proper channels and do something to change the system if you don't like it. If you care enough, don't just complain,act. You said once on, never off, not me. You have made the claim about greeting on or off welfare. Not me. Sounds like you must have looked that up so you can stop asking me for stats that I never claimed. Again, I don't need a monetary gain to feed these kids. The fact that they would go hungry is reason eniuh for me and I don't need to accuse you of anything to validate my point. I wish you'd do the same.
IamMe
Saturday 2 June 2012 22:52 Report this comment
Ronnie, please come up with some facts that show people on welfare decrease and help themselves. Call Clark Sanders and get on his show and spout your BS. I have never in my life seen such worthless excuses for welfare than out of the Ronnnies. I am sorry excuse me all to hell, asking for someone to be responisble is just mean of me I know:)
RONNIEMUR
Saturday 2 June 2012 23:20 Report this comment
@Iamme, why do you think I shouldndo your leg work? You stated that once on never off. You must have the stats if you can state that. You can't be too lazy to contact the welfare representative here. Show me my bs and I'll back it up. I've said that a few times but you fail to do so. Its getting tiring really. Kids can't be responsible for feeding themselves (haven't we been round this circle more than a few?). If you don't like it, change it. I can't help but wonder if you really care since you won't look up facts to prove or disprove your own point and you don't seem to be doing anything but complain about welfare which has nothing to do with whether or not you can eat at this program.
RONNIEMUR
Saturday 2 June 2012 23:33 Report this comment
Stop by 1410 E Iron and point your gripes in the right direction. You've made your point, but I still don't think that's reason enough to make kids go hungry.
IamMe
Sunday 3 June 2012 01:51 Report this comment
Do not worry ronnie's, we are changing, obama is on his way out! Free lunches under obama has gone up, time for him to go bye bye.
IamMe
Sunday 3 June 2012 01:52 Report this comment
What does the welfare rep do besides get more kids on welfare?
IamMe
Sunday 3 June 2012 02:10 Report this comment
In the last 10 years how many parents have cut back on their welfare use?
RONNIEMUR
Sunday 3 June 2012 07:48 Report this comment
The welfare Rep can give you the welfare stats you claim to desire,if you truly want them and aren't just asking others to look them up instead of making a point on the topic.
IamMe
Sunday 3 June 2012 09:47 Report this comment
I made my point. You do not know and can not answer. Yet you defend.
RONNIE
Sunday 3 June 2012 13:16 Report this comment
What is your point. You said once on never off and now you want me to find the stats that make a liar out of you or not. Sorry, I told you where to get that info and if you are too lazy to look it ho or get involved, continue whining from your keyboard.
IamMe
Sunday 3 June 2012 20:46 Report this comment
I know the facts ronnie, that is why you do not want to post them. Welfare is increasing in Salina. Speaking of lazy have you seen the increase in school lunches? 58% of parents in Salina can not feed their kids. Awesome. Jump on the bandwagon ronnie and get ya some. Or just tell them to keep on having kids, more welfare monies comin in. Ronnie your hate on me for requiring personal responsibility for parents is down right funny!
Iamgonnagetu
Sunday 3 June 2012 21:38 Report this comment
Well ronniemur you can't seem to get yourself out of the corner you painted yourself in. Your cliques are getting boring but you seem to have more time to look things up evidently your unemployed and probably have kids on this system.
THEENFORCER
Sunday 3 June 2012 23:55 Report this comment
Boy these ronnie's are sure trying to nail people. If both of you support all these illegals and others from taking advantage of the programs then both of you invite their kids to your homes for food. I have yet seen one instance being reported of a malnourished child in salina so somebody is feeding these kids. Plus kids skip meals all the time even when they are available at home. This is just a big waste of taxpayer monies.
RONNIEMUR
Monday 4 June 2012 06:41 Report this comment
See,Iamg...safe side,huh. @Iamme, if you have the facts post them and tell us where you got them. For me, feeding kids doesnhave to com with an incentive more than their health. @Iamgonna, thanks for the illogical assumptions but you guys are on here a ton as well, ezxcuse me for fact checking instead of making assumptions before I speak. @then...you guys could all get together and make one post post and show me where I said I support the things you say I do just because I don't enjoy racism or ignoring hungry children. Show me , I dare you. You all bring up illegals and welfare, the rest of us are talking about the free lunch summer program, for all children, not just illegal or poor kids, but all of them. Again if you don't like it, change it. But something tells me we'll just see more complaining and less doing from you guys because that's just easier.
Iamgonnagetu
Monday 4 June 2012 08:10 Report this comment
Ronniemur there are no cases of child malnutrition on record here in saline county. Go ahead and prove me wrong big mouth.
RONNIEMUR
Monday 4 June 2012 08:46 Report this comment
@Iamg..Instead of answering on the topic we must keep adding new things that you state and then ask me to prove or disprove them. I would hope that you would have enough respect for yourself f to look things up before making a statement. Where did you get your info and I will fact check. If you want to ask for and read through every reported CINC case, let us know what you find. I won't be disappointed if the school program is nourishing those who need it. I don't need a child to become sick from malnutrition in order to support a program. I like people being proactive.
RONNIEMUR
Monday 4 June 2012 09:01 Report this comment
Also@Iamg...You are on here quite often, should we assume of you what you assume of my employment status. I'm not the one complaining about spending a few pennies to feed kids in our own town. So much so that I haven't asked for anything as a reward for it, such as a drop in welfare or a prerequisite of starving kids before I can support feeding a few. Really, if a kid is hungry they should prove to you that they should go on welfare as an adult or prove to you that they are already malnourished? Is that what you are saying? In our own town? Is that what you're trying to say?
RONNIEMUR
Monday 4 June 2012 09:04 Report this comment
Correction. Won't, not should in the 4th line.
THEENFORCER
Monday 4 June 2012 23:01 Report this comment
ronniemur you and ronnie probably one of the same come on here to attack people. You always try to change things around on what people say. Now these programs should be for US citizens that live below the proverty income line. It should not be for all kids who walk around with $400 Ipods in designer clothes. Or anyone here illegally. I am sure you will find fault with this but that is fine but no one person is going to clean up the government.