Summer Lunch Program
Barbara Nichols, Director of Food Services for Westbrook Schools, was our guest and speaker on May 23. She spoke about the upcoming summer feeding program for children up to 18 years of age. During the summer of 2016, this program provided 15,000 lunches and 5,000 breakfasts. They expect to meet or exceed that number in 2017 at the five feeding sites with the help of many volunteers and a few staff members.
The statics for Westbrook are sobering. 64-65% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. With the percentage of students this high for the community, Westbrook can provide free meals to children all summer long without qualifying each child who comes to be fed.
Meals are prepared at the middle school or the high school by five staff members who work all summer. The food is then packaged and shipped to each site. With transportation required, the meals are always cold. They are similar to meals served during the school year with a vegetable, a whole grain, a fruit, and a lean protein.
To let families and children know about the program, flyers are sent home with kids. Flyers are also placed in stores and laundromats. This year the feeding sites will be at: High School, Middle School, Westbrook Point, Intercultural Community Center, and Walker Field. Volunteers are needed at all sites to hand out the meals and will be trained on procedures required to meet Federal guidelines for the program.
To volunteer, contact Barbara at: nicholsb
L-R: Karen Marie Reilly, Barbara Nichols, Becky Albert