Mercer County Schools supplying meals to children this summer
May 22—princeton — Most children are happy when school lets out for the summer, but the ones depending on school for breakfast and lunch face weeks of being hungry.
To help fill this summertime gap, the Child Nutrition Department of Mercer County Schools recently announced its sponsorship of the federally-funded Summer Food Service Program.
The Mercer County Schools Express offers the county's students breakfast and lunch for two weeks during the summer. During those weeks, the MSC Express food truck will be at the parking lots of Mercer School in Princeton and Bluefield Primary School on designated days, according to Krista Kessinger, director of child nutrition for Mercer County Schools.
"What we're going to ask before summer starts is that our students sign up," Kessinger said Tuesday. "We're going to put up an online form and students can sign up on which site they can come to."
Signing up students in advance lets the child nutrition department know how many meals to plan for, she said. The sign-up form will be posted on the Mercer County Schools Facebook page.
"Parents should keep on eye out on social media," Kessinger said, adding that the form should be posted "within the next week or two."
People who have difficulty with the online form can email Kessinger at kmkessinger@K12.wv.us and the information will be passed on to the school cooks.
Breakfast and lunch is open to all children, ages 18 and under, who want to participate.
This summer's Mercer County Schools Express schedule includes the following dates and locations: — June 10: Mercer School parking lot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — June 11: Bluefield Primary School parking lot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — June 12: Mercer School parking lot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — June 13: Bluefield Primary School parking lot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — June 24: Bluefield Primary School parking lot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — June 25: Mercer School parking lot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — June 26: Bluefield Primary School parking lot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — June 27: Mercer School parking lot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Another option for Mercer County students in need to get breakfast and lunch during the summer is the Mercer County Schools Summer Learning Academy.
The Mercer County Schools Summer Learning Academy will have breakfast and lunch at both Princeton Primary School and Bluefield Primary School. Each school will have breakfast from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. the week of July 8 to 12 and the week of July 15 to 19.
Kessinger said parents will find more information about the academy program at their children's elementary schools.
The schools will be an open site, so other Mercer County students interested in having breakfast or lunch at the schools can come in, she said.
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
