Med High offering free lunch

MERCEDES - There is such a thing as a free lunch.

Maintaining the idea that summer is a break from classes, but not from nutrition, the South Texas Independent School District is offering children 18 and younger a free lunch.

Through the Seamless Summer Program administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture, the program allows districts to claim reimbursements at the free meal rate effective during the previous school year.

Ray Coody, the child nutrition coordinator for STISD, said this is the first summer that the district is offering free lunches.

Wednesday was the first day of the program at the Science Academy of South Texas where students are attending summer school.
SSP has been around for nearly six years. State officials have required schools to participate in the Summer Food Service Program if 60 percent or more of the daily attendance qualified for free or reduced-priced meal benefits.

"Summer feeding programs are a win-win for everyone," the TDA's Web site states.

Coody said 69 percent of the students attending summer school ate a free lunch on Wednesday. A total of 450 students are enrolled in summer school. But the program is open to all nearby children.

"We're hoping we can let area kids get a free lunch," said STISD spokeswoman Andi Atkinson. "We have kids in this area."

Coody said all lunches are hot meals, not sack lunches.

"We're high on quality when it comes to our food," he said. "I believe we'll have more participation in the community when the word gets out."