DCPS kicks off summer feeding program

Daviess County Public Schools launched its summer feeding program Monday morning, by bringing various nonprofit groups together to promote their seasonal children’s activities.

The feeding program started Monday and runs through Aug. 2. Throughout the summer, DCPS food service staff will be delivering meals to neighborhoods, apartment complexes and parks Monday through Friday.

Connie Beth Fillman, the district’s food services director, said Monday’s event was the first public kickoff for the program. In addition to going to neighborhoods, district vans will deliver meals to programs like summer day camps and vacation Bible schools, Fillman said.

The program provides a free meal to anyone age 18 years old and younger, regardless of where they go do school, Fillman said.

“We’ll be starting out at 700 meals per day” delivered, Fillman said. “When we get into June, we’ll be up to 1,500 per day.”

The school district is reimbursed for every meal provided through the program, Fillman said.

“We get reimbursement, just like during the school year,” Fillman said. “We get reimbursement and they (children) get to eat all summer.”

While any child or teen can get a meal, the goal is to reach children who might otherwise go without, Fillman said.

“When we plan our mobile routes, we try to plan it to go where we are reaching the most needy students we have,” Fillman said.

Monday’s kickoff was also a chance to let people know “what our food service team does all summer,” Fillman said.

To find a schedule of daily routes for the summer feeding program, visit the DCPS website, at daviesskyschools.org.

Several other groups were on hand Monday, to provide information about their summer programs.

At the Daviess County Public Library tent, library outreach coordinator Candice Dent was talking with visitors about library activities and the summer reading program.

“This is a great time for them to come to us,” Dent said.

The library has daily programs for families, children and teens Mondays through Thursdays and some Fridays throughout the months of June or July. The summer reading program, which is open to children and adults, includes weekly drawings where participants become eligible for prizes for every hour they read.

The library will also host events with inflatables, parties and educational events centered around dinosaurs and reptiles on Wednesdays.

“If we can get them through the doors, hopefully we can get them to love to read,” Dent said.

Brittni Klotzback, recreation supervisor for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, was passing out candy and information about the department’s summer programs at Monday’s event.

Although the city’s summer day camp programs are full, the department has numerous events planned for children, such as swimming lessons, family golf days where children play free with a paid adult, T-ball and volleyball leagues and ice skating and skating lessons.

Dugan Best Recreation Center on Omega Street will be also open daily, with a schedule of summer activities, including twice-weekly trips to Combest Pool in June.

The parks department does offer assistance to help people pay for lessons and activities, Klotzback said.

“We have scholarships for all of our programs,” Klotzback said. Scholarships are based on family income, with families eligible to receive up to a 50% discount on fees.

“July is National Parks and Recreation Month, Klotzback said, and that all city parks would host activities that month.