Saturday, June 22, 2024
The Granbury Independent School District (GISD) commences the 2024 Summer Lunch Program, a vital initiative to provide free, nutritious meals to Granbury ISDs students during the summer months. This program is designed to support families and ensure that children continue to receive essential nutrition even when school is not in session.
The Summer Lunch Program offers free meals to all children aged 18 and younger. Additionally, students aged 18 to 21 who are enrolled in high school or under and identified as mentally or physically disabled through the special education program are also eligible for free meals. The program will operate on the following dates: Mon-Thurs on June 3-27 and July 8-18. Parents or guardians can pick up meals for their children after verification at the designated sites.
Acceptable forms of verification include:
Amy Whiteley, the Director of Child Nutrition for GISD, explains, "(The) menus are based on the Texas Department of Agriculture meal pattern requirements and food available by manufacturers." This ensures that every meal is balanced and nutritious, meeting the dietary needs of growing children.
"Texas law mandates that public school districts where 50% or more of the enrolled students are eligible for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) free or reduced-price meal benefits must operate a summer feeding program," Whiteley says, "GISD qualifies for this mandate, as just over 50% of its students are eligible for free and reduced-price meal benefits during the school year."
"Providing free, healthy school meals to all students is crucial to combat childhood hunger and food insecurity. Universal meals enhance learning, academic achievement, and social cohesion, creating a more inclusive school environment," explains Dr. Janet Poppendieck, Urban School Food Alliance Advisory Council Member.
GISDs 2024 Summer Lunch Program is more than just a meal service; it is a lifeline for many families in Hood County, ensuring that children receive the nutrition they need to thrive. By participating in this program, GISD is committed to supporting the health and well-being of its students, helping them grow into healthy, active, and successful individuals.
For more information about the program, including site locations, meal pickup times, and meals served, please visit the GISD website SSO Site Menu - Google Docs (edl.io)
