Two converted school buses were modified to transport and serve hot and cold meals to Lakota communities where the highest percentage of low-income school families resided.
Lakota nutrition program officials say in many low-income families, both parents or a single parent works and are not around during the lunch hours to provide food for youngsters and teens. Adult and teen volunteers help distribute the food from buses at seven stops in various West Chester and Liberty township communities.
The program will continue next summer but with some changes, said officials.
While the numbers of meals served – 15,000 – was much less than the prediction of 200,000 meals projected by Lakota officials, they maintain the program provided a vital nutrition bridge for students who may have gone hungry or lacked proper nutrition during the 58-day vacation from school.
“The program went extremely well and the program did exactly what it was supposed to do: Provide nutritious meals when students are not in school as well as structured activities,” said Chris Burkhardt, director of child nutrition and wellness for Lakota Schools.
“The numbers were lower than I expected, but I was rather aggressive with my figures,” said Burkhardt. “The volunteers from the Faith Alliance to the Butler County Educational Service Center and the Lakota school district all came together to provide educational and outreach opportunities for the students. It was amazing to see the students eating a healthy lunch and participating in the activities set up by the volunteers.”
“The program meant the world to families. I spoke with many parents who thanked me for providing the program,” he said.
Of Lakota’s 16,500 students, more than 3,500 families qualify for the $147,000 federally subsidized program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“What we learned: When it is mid 90s outside with high humidity, the bus can get quite warm. We need to find a way to keep staff and students cool in the summer. The Child Nutrition staff and supervisors worked tremendously through the adverse conditions. From mid 90-degree weather to torrential rain storms, they served students each and every day.”
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