HOULTON, Maine — Even though classes are officially out for the summer, students in many districts will continue to receive free meals courtesy of their schools.
RSU 29 Superintendent Ellen Halliday said Tuesday that her district is in the process of transforming into its summer feeding program, with a few new twists.
“This year, because of the waivers the federal government has provided, we will be able to continue doing what we started in March,” Halliday said. “That means every child in the district will continue to receive breakfast and lunch meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We may have to tweak that depending on the participation.”
The district currently provides bag meals for students to be picked up at a number of sites in Houlton and Littleton.
In past summers, students participating in the summer feeding program had to eat their meals at the school. Halliday said the plan for this summer is to continue having students pick up their bag meals and take them with them.
“We want to continue to provide meals to as many of the kids as we possibly can,” she added.
The district has been averaging about 6,500 breakfasts and lunches each week, since the schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SAD 70 in Hodgdon is also continuing its free meals by delivering care packages to families. Starting June 16, the district will shift to a once-a-week delivery of food, that includes such things as a gallon of milk, sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, cereal and more. The packages will include enough food to last for seven days.
“It’s crucial that we continue to feed our students,” said Matt Oliver, principal of Mill Pond School in Hodgdon. “We had a lot of cooperation with the high school staff, packing the buses and delivering the food three times a week. It’s been a district-wide effort.”
Oliver said the children have loved seeing the staff and school bus come to their homes. For many, it is the only interaction with other people the students have had since in-person education came to a halt.
“They so look forward to seeing that bus,” Oliver said. “Our staff will work from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will prep, pack, load and deliver the food. We have to deliver the food because we have families that can’t get to the school to pick it up.”
RSU 50 Superintendent Jon Porter said his district will also continue with its summer food program. The district will deliver fresh food to families three days a week — Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays — through Aug. 31.
“We will be providing five days worth of meals a week,” he said.
