Henderson County Meals on the Bus program rolls to a park near you this summer

Staff reports

Henderson County Public Schools will continue serving the health and wellness of students over the summer months through the Summer Food Service Program, which begins Monday, June 3.

From June 3 through Friday, July 26, the HCPS Child Nutrition Department will operate four open sites, consisting of stops along two Meals on the Bus routes. New this year are the park locations, ensuring children can comfortably enjoy meals on-site. Each stop features picnic tables and plenty of outdoor space, enhancing the experience for the community while following federal regulations.

Henderson County Public Schools will continue serving the health and wellness of students over the summer months through the Summer Food Service Program.
Henderson County Public Schools will continue serving the health and wellness of students over the summer months through the Summer Food Service Program.

Lunch meals will be available to children ages 2-18 at no cost to families Monday-Friday on the following schedules:

Route 1: Weekdays June 3-July 26, Jackson Park Shelter 4 11-11:45 a.m. and East Flat Rock Park noon-12:45 p.m.

Route 2: Weekdays June 3-July 26, Edneyville Community Center 11-11:45 a.m. and Dana Community Park noon-12:45 p.m.

HCPS’ Child Nutrition Department annually participates in the USDA-funded, state-administered SummerFood Service Program, and this year will be providing meals at no cost to children at a total of 32 closed and open meal sites.

Closed sites include several partner organizations serving children over the summer months requiringregistration and enrollment such as the Boys & Girls Club, The Salvation Army of Hendersonville andWNCSource early childhood centers. All 23 HCPS schools are also considered closed sites since meals will be provided specifically to students participating in summer learning at their schools. Open sites along the Meals on the Bus routes are open to the public, where any child aged 2-18 may receive lunch meals during the designated times June 3-July 26.

These state-administered SFSP meals and Meals on the Bus operations must follow the traditional federal regulations, requiring meals to be distributed to eligible children and eaten at the Meals on the Bus mobile feeding site. Federal laws and food safety standards also determine the length of the Meals on the Bus stops, which are annually reviewed and planned by the Child Nutrition Department in cooperation with the Transportation Department.

Henderson County Public Schools will continue serving the health and wellness of students over the summer months through the Summer Food Service Program.
Henderson County Public Schools will continue serving the health and wellness of students over the summer months through the Summer Food Service Program.

During the summer, North Carolina families can also text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 to find summer meal open sites by location. Contact the HCPS Child Nutrition Department at 828-891-6310 for more information.

Sites will be closed, and the Meals on the Bus routes will not be operating on Thursday, July 4, when the district is closed in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

More: Steve Dozier, long-time chair, steps away from Henderson County planning board

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Meals on the Bus program rolls to a park near you this summer

Advertisement