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Most parents are worrying about summer day camps and swimming lessons for their children. But for some parents in Sunnyvale, feeding their children during the day is a big issue. These parents depend on subsidized meals during the school year.
This summer the Sunnyvale School District may be able to help set these parents' minds at ease with meals for children during the summer months.
Sodexho Alliance, a national food and facilities management service provider is working with the Sunnyvale School District to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program which provides free meals at local schools to children from ages 1 to 18. The program is designed for children of families who qualify for free or reduced-cost meals during the school year, but the free meals are open to any children who show up at the serving sites.
Thirty-nine percent of students in Sunnyvale qualify for free meals, according to Nancy Tivol, executive director of Sunnyvale Community Services.
Gail Burke, food service consultant with the district, said Lakewood Elementary School and Bishop Elementary School were chosen as serving sites because of the percentage of families at those schools who receive free meals during the school year.
"It's a great program at no cost to children who might not get three squares a day," Burke said.
Any children, even if they are not residents of Sunnyvale or students of the district, are eligible to participate in the program.
However, neither Sodexho nor the Sunnyvale School District is providing transportation to the meals. "This program will benefit Lakewood and Bishop students the most because they can walk to the schools," Burke said.
This summer will be the second year that the district is participating in the program. Last year the program served an average of 200 students a day at each site.
But because not all needy children can benefit from this program, Sunnyvale Community Services is also stepping up to the plate, as a nonprofit agency that gives food and financial assistance to low-income families.
"Kids in day care can't get over to where the lunch is being served, so we give the parents more food than we usually give them to make up for it," said executive director Nancy Tivol.
Meals will be served at Lakewood Elementary School at 750 Lakechime Drive from June 30 to July 25 from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., but no meals will be provided on July 4. Meals will also be served at Bishop Elementary School at 450 N. Sunnyvale Avenue from July 7 to August 1 from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
For more information on the Summer Food Service Program call Gail E. Burke at 408.522.8200 ext. 278. To contact Sunnyvale Community Services call 408.738.4321.
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