Free Lunch Program For Kids Kicks Off In Oregon

Amelia Templeton | June 22, 2010 3:44 p.m. | Updated: June 23, 2010 1:59 p.m. | Portland, OR

Nearly half the school-age children in Oregon qualify for a free or reduced price lunch during the school year. The Federal Summer Food Service program started yesterday. Children under the age of 18 can stop by many schools, parks, and churches for a free meal during the summer too. Amelia Templeton reports.
In a corner of the Milwaukie Elementary cafeteria, a teacher with guitar has summer school students sing to calm them down. The children are about to eat lunch before going home. This year, the North Clackamas school district has sent parents fliers encouraging other kids in the neighborhood to show up here for a free meal. Audra Erikson is almost ten. She takes a look at what's in her free lunch bag. Audra Erikson: "Peanut butter and jelly and crackers. Banana and Carrots." About forty children showed up today just for lunch. Audra is eating with her two brothers and her mother, Janice Erikson. Janice says in the summer, it's hard to budget for an extra meal each day. Janice Erikson: "We had free and reduced lunches. Because my husband just got back from his second tour in Iraq. He's unemployed so money is really tight. So this is something that's really good for us." The federal government provides a three dollar reimbursement to local organizations for each meal they provide. The organizations pitch in with staff and other support. Today, volunteers from the Milwaukie Presbyterian church brought board games like operation and a giant bucket of pens. Daryl Dix is managing the program for the North Clackamas school district. Daryl Dix: "It's pretty amazing, overwhelming. I'm going to need more volunteers. More tables." Dix's program is providing lunch at six schools and two apartment complexes. Last year each day about 50,000 kids in the state ate summer lunch. All you have to do to participate is show up. There's no paperwork to fill out. There are about 500 locations statewide where kids under 18 can get a meal. The website SummerFoodOregon.org lists them all.

© 2010 OPB

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