Children Can Get Free Lunch at NVUSD Sites This Summer

From the Napa Valley Unified School District:

For five weeks this summer, children can get a free lunch at one of five school sites in Napa and American Canyon, the NVUSD Food Services office announced today. Federal and State reimbursements help to offset the cost of the program, which is expected to provide more than 10,000 meals from June 10 to July 14.

“More than 49 percent of our students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch during the school year,” said Sunita Dutt-Ellenby, food services coordinator for NVUSD. “And we know that many of those children won’t have reliable access to sufficient nutritious food during the summer. The Summer Meal program helps to fill some of that void.”

Children up to age 18 will receive a free lunch, Monday through Friday, at Napa High School, Snow Elementary School or Phillips Elementary School in Napa, and at Canyon Oaks Elementary School and Donaldson Way Elementary School in American Canyon.

The program runs from Wednesday, June 10, to Tuesday, July 14.

All sites will be closed on Friday, July 3, for the Fourth of July holiday.

The children must be accompanied by an adult, although the adult is not eligible for a free meal, and all of the food must be eaten at one sitting. No registration or documentation is required.

All meals are served from noon to 1 p.m., except at Snow School, where the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The lunches will follow USDA and California guidelines, and will include meat or a meal alternative, fruit, vegetables, whole grains and milk.

Dutt-Ellenby estimates that the program will cost NVUSD about $37,408 for meal costs and labor. About $31,824 of that will be reimbursed, with the remaining $5,584 coming from District funds.

Anyone with questions about the program can call (707) 253-3541.

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