Northwest Indiana kids can get free summer meals
For parents experiencing food insufficiency, some Northwest Indiana area school districts are offering relief.
Free breakfasts and lunches are being offered most weekdays throughout the summer through the Summer Food Service Program, which funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Indiana Department of Agriculture. The program aims to serve the needs of low-income children in areas where children may have limited access to good nutrition.
Breakfasts include options such as donuts, pop tarts, apple, or orange confetti pancakes and more. For lunch, there is pizza, peanut butter and jelly, fresh broccoli and dip, chicken patties, beef hot dogs and more.
Locations offering summer meals throughout Lake and Porter counties can be found by visiting https://idoenutrition. com/ or https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids.
Weekdays through August 10 the Merrillville Community School Corporation will offer free breakfasts and lunches to all children ages 18 and under. Meals will be served during the week except for June 20, Juneteenth, and July 4.
“It’s a service we’ve provided every summer for a long time that helps children between school years,” said Donna Stuckert, public information officer for Merrillville Community School Corporation.
The meal program targets areas that show 50 percent or more children eligible for free/reduced lunch, but meals are available to all kids regardless of income. Many locations are at school buildings, but parks, community centers, churches and even buses will help serve food.
“Some of the food sites are in parks where people don’t have to drive far and can end up playing in the park,” Stuckert said.
Meals will be offered weekdays only, and children must be present and eat their meals on site. Only one breakfast and one lunch are permitted per child per day. Merrillville students attending summer school will receive their meals at school.
The following sites will distribute breakfasts from 9 to 10 a.m. and lunches from noon-1 p.m.: Merrillville High School, 276 E. 68th Pl., Door I; Pierce Middle School, 199 E. 70th St., west of Door 3; Fieler Elementary
School, 407 W. 61st Ave., Door C; Salk Elementary School, 3001 W. 77th Ave., Door B; Miller Elementary School, 5901 Waite St., Door A; Stefek Park, 7053 Harrison St.; and Collins Park, 9500 Merrillville Rd.
Mobile bus stops will offer lunch only: 11-11:20 a.m.: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 5375 Harrison St.; 11:40-11:50 a.m.: 73rd & Bigger; noon-12:20 p.m.: Rethink Church, 2920 W. 73rd Pl.
For more information, visit the Merrillville Community School Corporation website, www.mvsc.k12.in.us, or call the central office, 219-650-5300.
Hammond and Whiting
The Hammond and Whiting Community School Corporation will offer free breakfasts and lunches to all children ages 18 and under on weekdays through Aug. 5, except for June 20, Juneteenth, and July 4.
The following school sites will each have breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and lunch from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.: Burns-Hicks Elementary, 1001 165th St., Door K; Edison Elementary, 7025 Madison Ave. Door C; Gavit MS/HS YMCA, 1670 175th St.; Eggers Middle School, 5825 S. Blaine Ave,
Door N; Franklin Elementary Sczhool, 10000 116th Whiting Door A; Harding Elementary, 3211 165th St. Door B; Irving Elementary, 4727 Pine Ave. Door A; Morton Elementary School , 7006 Marshall Ave. Door A.
Turner Park Homes will have a mobile van route from 11 to 11:30 am. Georgetown Homes will have a mobile van route from noon to 12:30 p.m.
Highland
In Highland, the Food Service Department will be serving free meals to those 18 and under. Johnston Elementary, 8220 5th Street, will have breakfast from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. and lunch from 11 to 12:30 a.m. Food will be served from Tuesday to Friday May 31 to June 3, and June 6 to June 10. They will also be Monday through Thursday June 13 to 16, and July 18 to August 4.
Merkley Elementary School will have lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, June 6 to July 28. Main Square Park also will have lunch Monday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 6 to July 28.
For more information about other area Summer Meals Programs visit www. schlunch.com.