Employee Melissa Colson guided several families to the concession stand window for a free lunch last week; the Greenfield-Central summer feeding program continues each weekday for children 18 and younger.
Maribeth Vaughn | [email protected]
GREENFIELD – Gena Booth stumbled upon free summertime lunches last year when her toddlers were playing at the splash pad in Riley Park.
They loved it so much, they ask mom where the free food is every time they see the concession stand all year long.
So it’s no wonder they showed up on the first day of Greenfield-Central’s summer feeding program June 5, ready for a chicken sandwich, pears and baked beans.
It was a welcome addition to a busy summer day in Greenfield, having just experienced an animal program at the library and ready to cool off at the splash pad.
“We just make a day of it; we love it,” Booth said as she handed out food to Jude, 3, Dakota and Phoenix, 4; with baby Gray watching from a stroller.
G-C schools is among more than 1,000 locations statewide that provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to children 18 and younger. The Summer Food Service Program is a federal nutrition program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Indiana Department of Education. While the program is designed to meet the needs of low-income children who may have limited access to good nutrition while school is out, anybody can grab a free bite to eat. No need to sign up, no proof of need required.
In Greenfield, sites for free food include the concession stand at the splash pad; Greenfield-Central High School and Greenfield Central Junior High School. Meals also go to the Kids Kamp, located inside the Patricia Elmore Center at Riley Park.
Gena Booth passed out food to her children Jude, 3, Dakota and Phoenix, 4, and baby Gray on the first day of the Greenfield-Central summer feeding program.
Maribeth Vaughn | [email protected]
Amber Kiser brought daughter Averie Kiser, 9, and friend Kennah Rhoades, 10, to the splash pad last week for a free lunch.
Maribeth Vaughn | [email protected]
Employee Melissa Colson spent part of the first day of the program last week just walking around the splash pad, inviting families over to the concession stand.
She said it doesn’t take long for word of mouth to spread throughout the community that children can get a free bite of lunch at the splash pad, a popular spot for children of all ages.
Averie Kiser, 9, and Kennah Rhoades, 10, were also enjoying a free bite to eat. Mom Amber Kiser said the chicken sandwich is one of Averie’s favorites from school lunches, and sometimes they follow the summer calendar the school emails to parents to see if they want to grab a meal.
It helps with the family budget, she said, and it’s fun to have an outing in the community. The splash pad is the perfect spot for it, she added, because sometimes they’ll swim in pool afterward.
“It seems like Averie always has a friend with her, and kids just love to eat,” she said.
Breakfast offered daily at Greenfield-Central High School and Greenfield Central Junior High School includes Pop Tarts, cereal, cereal bars, juice and milk. Meals are available each weekday in June and July from 7:30-8:45 a.m.
Lunch includes an alternating menu each weekday in June and July at the high school, junior high and the concession stand at the Kathy Dowling Aquatic Center at Riley Park. The concession stand site is open 10:45-11:45 a.m.; the junior high is 11 a.m. to noon, and the high school is 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
