The Price Elks Lodge #1550 has donated $2,000 to the Carbon School District for the Summer Lunch Program underway at five locations around the county.
Exalted Ruler Mary Alice Johnson presented the check to the district’s Child Nutrition Director Patty Rigby during lunch June 28 at Creekview Elementary School in Price. Johnson said the source of the funding is an Elk’s “Gratitude Grant,” which is based on each member’s contribution.
This is the third year the Price Elks have contributed to the Summer Lunch Program. The donation will furnish fresh fruits and vegetables to replace canned items.
“With their generous donation, we can do even more with fresh fruit,” Rigby stated. She noted some kids are being introduced to healthier choices in their diet for the first time. “We want to shift the kids’ thinking that snacks can be an apple- it doesn’t have to be a bag of chips.”
On some days, as many as 200 kids are served free lunches at Creekview Elementary alone, with a daily average at the school of 166. The meals are served from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Rigby observed, “It saves families quite a bit. And we will have whole families come. Parents can eat for $4.”
Rigby declared the free lunches are available for any and all kids. “They don’t have to be students,” she continued, “we’ve had kids that are home-schoolers come. We have cousins that are visiting come. Anybody 18 and under can come and eat free at any of our sites.”
Other locations participating in the summer lunch program include Bruin Point Elementary, Castle Valley Center, Sally Mauro Elementary and Wellington City Park. The days and hours may vary. The meals will be served through the summer until the week before school starts again.
Rigby said the summer lunches are funded by the USDA National School Lunch Program and have been available in the Carbon School District for the last ten years at least.
As for getting kids to eat their vegetables, Rigby affirmed, “It’s just getting them to try it more than once. And we’ve had good success.”
Price Elks donation puts fresh veggies on lunch trays
Creekview Elementary serves an average of 166 summer lunches per day.