No Kid Need Go Hungry In Stonington This Summer

By Ellyn Santiago

According to federal statistics, during the school year, over 19 million children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. But what happens when school lets out?

Fortunately there are services that fill the summer gap and provide free, nutritious meals for kids. The USDA's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is here to help. 

And for Stonington kids, that means breakfast and lunch at Stonington High School. The USDA program has partnered with Stonington Board of Education Food Service Program and Stonington Human Services to make sure no kid is left hungry.

According to human services manager Leanne Theodore, the program, which has been running since 2004, has continued to grow in popularity in fact they've seen an 193% increase since 2004.

With the help of SPS food service director Tim Paquette and run this summer by SHS head cook Bonnie Stillman, the program is under way and is open to any child under 18 – no registration or paperwork is needed. Just an empty belly! Monday through Friday until August 16. Breakfast is served at 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Spellman Park Recreation Complex behind SHS and lunch is served in the SHS cafeteria at 11:30 until 12.

Merrick Smith, of Groton, is the Human Services camp supervisor. He told Patch that some 150 kids are fed breakfast and/or lunch every day.

Summer brings the highest rates of childhood hunger in the U.S, with more children going without nutrients, skipping meals and eating less food. Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process: Lack of nutrition can lead to poor performance and concentration and may make children more prone to illness and other health issues.

So if nutritious meals are hard to come by this summer for your child, Stonington hopes you'll have your kids grab breakfast or lunch or both at SHS.