Every Wednesday in June and July, vehicles line up outside of McNabb Middle School in Montgomery County to receive a week’s worth of free meals for children. The program, which is partially reimbursed by the Department of Education, is open to every child 18 or younger, regardless of household income or county of residence.

Supporting Local Families

According to Montgomery County Schools Child Nutrition Director Sandy Jones, the program is essential, especially with the rising cost of groceries and other expenses. “I think it’s extremely important, especially right now… It’s not a program that’s income-based at all. It’s for every child,” Jones said.

Each child receives a gallon of milk, fresh produce, food for seven breakfasts and seven lunches, and beef sourced from nearby farms. The locally sourced meat is a point of pride for the program. Teacher and mom Maci Vanderpool is one of the regulars who appreciates the program. “My kids get so excited for it. They love getting the little snacks… We’ll say, ‘Let’s do a summer snack’ – that’s what we call them at our home,” Vanderpool said.

The program also includes easy-to-follow instructions to make mealtime simple at home. A pit crew of cafeteria staff loads cars and sends families on their way – week after week. Families can pick up meals each Wednesday in June and July from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at McNabb Middle School.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.