Mount Vernon City Schools will offer its Summer Food Program for students 18 months to 18 years of age, which includes a free breakfast and free lunch in a "grab and go" style daily.
The program, which began June 2, continues until July 30, a flyer from the Food Service Director Mark Kime said.
"We are reaching out to try and help the community," Kime told the Mount Vernon News.
Kime said that Mount Vernon City Schools had done a summer food program in years past, but this year is different. Instead of two locations, they have four open this year. Another change to the program includes that two locations, the Mount Vernon High School and the Pleasant Street Elementary, have "drive-thru" style pick-ups.
Kime said that people do have to get out of their cars at the other two locations and walk just a little bit to where the food is.
Kime said that the summer food program this year has expanded because of the USDA giving waivers as part of the USDA working to fight child hunger during the pandemic.
"We want to feed as many kids as we can during this time," Kime said. "We hope to increase our numbers so we know we are doing good for the community."
Another change to how the summer food program works stipulate that children do not have to be present to pick up the pre-assembled grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches. Kime said that parents, guardians or even older siblings could get the food for area children, even if that child is not a student.
"A child does not have to be present. They do not necessarily have to be a student of Mount Vernon," Kime said. "We just want to help everyone we can during these tough times."
The Food Service director said that the program is trying to provide as much variety as possible, which has been made difficult somewhat due to product shortages, but fresh fruits and vegetables are important inclusions.
Kime also said that there are items that need to be heated up, but the program provides instructions on how to do so properly with these meals. Kime said that freshness is another important factor in the breakfasts and lunches provided.
Breakfasts and lunches can be picked up at the Mount Vernon High School, Knox Learning Center, Dan Emmett Elementary and Pleasant Street Elementary between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
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