Ouachita Parish Schools providing free meals for students this summer

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Some families might not have the resources to provide nutritional meals for their children. Ouachita Parish Schools are providing free meals for students this summer.

The Summer Feeding Program provides breakfast and lunch for students 18 and younger. Officials are concerned that parents don’t know about the program.

“Just to know that they have a fresh nutritious meal for today, during the summer while they’re off, and help the mothers and the fathers, you know, provide for them,” Sharon Flintroy, Sterlington Resident, said.

She says she picks up meals each day for her two grandchildren. The meals help her cut down the cost of food during the summer.

“I thank God for whoever started the program, whoever the founder is because whoever made this choice looked at our children, and I will ask God to continue to bless him because when you feed every child, it makes a difference that that child is not going hungry,” she said.

According to the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, more than 63,000 people face food insecurity and 20% are children.

Theresa Schrock is the school’s cafeteria manager. She says she would like more families to pick up meals.

“We’re averaging about 75 right now. We would like for them to be maybe even double what we have now like 150 would be great. I know when we did the COVID feeding last year, we had over 250, so I know there are people out there. So they’ve just got to come in and get it,” she said.

“We’re very blessed here at Sterlington Middle School to have this in the Parish for a chance to feed our community out here and we hope that the program continues,” Alex Sikes, Administrator at Sterlington to Middle School he said.

It’s just another way schools are lending a helping hand.

“Just to know that it comes from their school makes a difference that the school cares enough to provide a meal for them,” said Flintroy.

The meals are only for students 18 or younger. Staff will be giving out meals Monday through Thursday from 10:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. click here for the list of locations.

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