Families should make it a point to grab free take-away meals at Mt. Eccles this summer, Cordova schools officials say, since the district actually generates revenue by feeding students.
The district’s Summer Food Service Program began distributing free breakfasts at Mt. Eccles Elementary School on May 29, as well as lunches on June 1. As of last week, the district had already handed out more than 2,000 meals.
The program is a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision, which reimburses lower income school districts for providing free meals to enrolled students.
Outgoing schools Superintendent Alex Russin said he encouraged a few of the parents he ran into on the first day of distribution to pick up meals for their kids, but noticed some of them seemed a bit “bashful,” since it can be regarded as a need-based program.
However, Russin and the School Board during their June 10 regular meeting emphasized that the more meals claimed, the more reimbursement funding the district receives from the USDA.
“The more students that come and get those take-away meals the greater our reimbursement is, and the higher rate of reimbursement,” Russin said.
At the current rate, he said the district could generate around $40,000 of reimbursement revenue, which could help the district balance its operating budget for next year.
Through Aug. 7, breakfast bags are available for pickup every Friday from 4-6 p.m. at the Mt. Eccles entryway. Each bag contains seven breakfasts, which include entrees, fruits or vegetables, milks, and other sides.
Lunch bags are also available for pickup at the Mt. Eccles cafeteria every day from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This week’s lunch menu includes chicken nuggets, tacos, a chicken burger, spaghetti, and cheese pizza.
For the full June lunch menu, click here.
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