The agency’s Summer Food Program is a six-week program for children ages 1-18.
The children may visit one of nine sites in St. Mary Parish, all of which serve lunch and some of which serve breakfast, too.
 From left, Tamara Norman, Kabrionte Broussard, Shakeesha Jordan, Taylor Joseph and Tytianna Charles eat lunch in the West St. Mary Civic Center in Jeanerette. -- Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Advertisement
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“The last two years, the number of children who need the services has picked up,” Franklin said.
“This gives them the opportunity to make sure they have hot, well-balanced meals during the summer time.”
Franklin said the program has been going on for more than 20 years, and is funded through a Department of Education grant that looks at past delivery for services for children, the need and cost-effectiveness of the program and how many students in local school districts are on reduced or free lunches.
“It’s a wonderful program,” Franklin said. “This is totally services-oriented. We’re just making sure they’re taken care of, especially when the parents are working.”
St. Mary Parish School Board President Roland Verret said the program typically targets children who already qualify for free or reduced lunches in St. Mary Parish schools.
“This extends the services to provide children the opportunity for meals in the summertime,” Verret said. “Anytime we can help a child, that’s a good thing.”
Four of the sites where meals are being served are located in the western part of the parish.
Sites
• St. Mary Alternative School, Verdunville, Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• West St. Mary Civic Center, Jeanerette, Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Mary Hines Elementary, Charenton, Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Baldwin Elementary, Baldwin, Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Comments
Single Parent wrote on Jun 19, 2009 11:47 PM:
I am a SINGLE, INDEPENDENT MOTHER with three kids. I do not get food stamps because I was told my income is to high. I have a MORTGAGE payment and CAR note. In a few days will be a PROUD alumni of ULL. As long as the government is giving something FREE my kids will be there. I pay for lunch at school let them eat FREE two months out of NINE. The inmates eat free, lay in the air all day and watch COX. So why can't children eat FREE? "
Always Right wrote on Jun 13, 2009 10:51 AM:
They're teaching them to be Slaves of the Government, just as they are Slaves.
Yes, slavery still exists. And what makes it worse than than slavery of the 1860s is that THEY CHOOSE TO BE SLAVES.
Pathetic. "
T Lee Horne III wrote on Jun 13, 2009 10:22 AM:
Perhaps the answer is to be found in equality of opportunity for all people. That would include but not be limited to opportunity for education, for being hired to do a job, for advancement once hired, for equal access to legal redress when discriminated against, and a host of other opportunities.
Special treatment by the government to the down trodden can end when equality is the prevailing structure under which all people operate.
As a practicing Christian, special treatment to those less fortunate than me will continue as freely given charitable work through my church. "
FREE wrote on Jun 13, 2009 9:04 AM:
Mr. Miller
Please research and provide how much this "wonderful" program costs the US tax payer. "
HeadStart Worker wrote on Jun 12, 2009 11:36 PM:
todd wrote on Jun 12, 2009 7:42 AM:
if we keep HELPING them constantly they will never lift a finger to help themselves. "