No doubt supported by a poster printing campaign, it is the third year in which The Baraboo School District is offering up the free breakfast and free lunch program as part of the Summer Food Service Program. Available to nearly half of all kids in Baraboo, the initiative runs for six weeks and will serve around 10,000 free meals in that time.
With a clear need in the area for the program, the food service director for the district said that she also hears from other organizations who serve free food through the summer months too. Mary Loveless said:
“It’s important because there’s a need out there.
“They’re not hungry during the school year. We don’t want them to be hungry during the summer.”
The service is dependent on a small band of people who over the years have grown into their role. The result, says Loveless, has been a far better use of food and cutting down on waste.
The free food program will get under way on June 16 and run through to July 25, operating in three schools.
Breakfast and lunch will be served at Baraboo High School, Gordon L. Willson Elementary School, and Al Behrman Elementary School during the summer school weeks.