The Texas Hunger Initiative and Aramark hosted a cookout event on Thursday, July 14 at 11:30 a.m. at Bean Elementary School to kickoff another year of the summer feeding program, which is aimed at helping to feed Lubbock ISD students.
Madeline Mcculare is the child hunger outreach specialist with the Texas Initiative and said that Lubbock ISD is considered a ‘severe needs’ community, and that 75% of the district is on free or reduced meal plans. She said that hunger negatively affects students in the classroom, in more ways than one.
“The hunger, it has developmental effects too and the kids that we know who suffer from food insecurity, they come back with higher rates of learning loss over the school year” said Mcculare. “They lose some of their reading and social ability.”
Jacinta Patilla has worked in LISD cafeterias for 15 years and said she can see how vital this program is for them especially in the summer months.
“This summer I’ve had kids say that they go to school just to eat,” said Patilla ” I’ve asked several of them- what are you doing up so early? They say: Miss we come to eat breakfast. I say, Well, you know it’s free. As long as you’re in school it’s free. You’re welcome to come get it. “
Children 18 and younger can eat breakfast and lunch during the week at one of LISD’s four summer feeding sites:
Bean Elementary School, 3001 Ave. N
Overton Elementary School, 2902 Louisville Ave.
Atkins Middle School, 5401 Ave. U
Estacado High School, 1504 E. Itasca Ave.
A majority of Lubbock ISD students qualify for free and reduced meals during the school year. The Summer Feeding Program aims to serve these students over the summer with the healthy food they need to grow and flourish. More information about the program is available on the Lubbock ISD website.
