Free Lunch Program Expands to Summer Months

Parents living in Dearborn who are concerned about the loss of free and reduced-cost lunches for their children will have one more tool they can use to fight off hunger.

Beginning June 20, Dearborn Public Schools will take part in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, which is designed to provide a nutritious meal for economically challenged youth. The meals will be offered at and elementary schools and the program will run through July 22.

Dave Mustonen, a spokesman for the district, said losing access to a free or discounted lunch can put a strain on already limited resources for area families.

“Since we have so many students that need this sort of service during the year, it stands to reason they would need it in the summer,” he said. “So we applied for this to try to provide something for the students during the summer.”

The Summer Food Program will offer free lunches to any child 18 years or younger or persons up to age 26 that are enrolled in an educational program for the mentally or physically handicapped that is recognized by the school district. The program is intended ensure that low-income children still have access to nutritious meals in the summer.

The program was secured for Dearborn students after the Food Services Department applied for and was accepted as a summer feeding site by the USDA. The criteria on which the district received its approval included the number of families in the community that live at or below the poverty level and how many children receive a free or reduced-cost lunch during the school year.

Currently, the district provides free or reduced-cost lunches to 11,000 students. The district’s enrollment is about 18,500 students.

The sites for the lunches were determined by using income data for neighborhoods with a significant concentration of low-income children.

If there was ever a time when a summer food program is needed, it’s now. According to the “Community Needs Assessment of Western Wayne County” report by Inkster-based Starfish Family Services, 15 percent of Dearborn’s households earn less than $20,000 per year. Also according to the report, which was released in April, Dearborn Public Schools is one of nine Western Wayne County school districts that provide free and reduced-cost lunches to more than 50 percent of its students.

“As a social service agency, we worry a lot about how the nutritional needs of students who get a free or reduced lunch during the school year are going to be met during the summer,” said Ann Kalass, CEO of Starfish. “We’re glad to see that (the meals) will be provided to children who are in need.”

Miller Elementary is located at 4824 Lois and will offer lunches from 10 a.m. to noon. Oakman Elementary is located at 7545 Chase and will serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both sites will be closed on July 4.