Summer Lunch Program provides children with free lunches

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Monday marks the first day of Columbia's Summer Lunch Program to help provide students 18 and under with free, healthy lunches while school is not in session.

No enrollment is required, and anyone under 18 can get a meal.

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services is giving out lunches at the Armory Sports and Recreation Center this summer. Nutrition Supervisor Erin Harris said she views this as a gap program to help children throughout the summer.

"School lunch is, for many kids, one of the few meals they get through the day," Harris said. "So, this tries to fill in that gap for them while they're not attending school to try to give them that balance, at least one solid meal in the middle of the day."

According to the City of Columbia's website, lunch sites this summer include:

• Columbia Square at 1715 W. Worley St. from 11 am. to 11:30 a.m. and snack from 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
• Indian Hills Park at 5009 Aztec Blvd. from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and snack from 1 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
• Progressive Missionary Baptist Church at 702 Banks Ave. from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and snack from 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Armory Sports and Recreation Center at 701 E. Ash St. from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Columbia Housing Authority Bear Creek at 1109 Elleta Blvd. from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. and snack from 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Columbia Housing Authority Stuart-Parker at 225 Unity Drive from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. and snack from 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Demaret Drive at 718 Demaret Drive from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. and snack from 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Most sites operate Monday through Friday through Aug. 16 and are closed on holidays. The site at the Armory will close on Aug. 2.

Harris said she is hoping to serve about 100 children at the Armory site each day, and expects the need to increase once summer school ends later this month.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Harris said each meal includes fruits, vegetables, milk, protein and fiber and Vitamin K, along with extras including things like cheeseburgers or chili cheese fries.

The program is put on by Columbia Public Schools, Powerhouse, Columbia Parks and Recreation and Public Health and Human Services.

According to data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, CPS had 7,201 students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches as of November, which is almost 41% of its student population.

This is slightly less than the statewide average of just over 47% of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch.

Statewide, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services served around 4 million meals during the summer in 2023. Health Program Coordinator Tanya Harvey said that number is likely to increase this year.

Most meals being given out, including those in Columbia, are congregate meals, which means children are supposed to stay and eat the meals on-site. Now, in some rural areas, Harvey said programs can offer non-congregate meals and allow children to grab the meals to go.

Due to this added option, she expects the number of meals being served to increase.

"If you're in a rural area, sometimes it's hard to get to those places to get the food daily," Harvey said. "So, that's why it's being offered in the rural areas."

DHSS also has a resource for families to find local summer food programs. An online, interactive map shows Summer Food Service Program sites all around the state that provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks to children during the summer months.

Children don't have to be registered to receive a lunch and there is no fee to participate.

Harris said anyone interested in volunteering for the Columbia programs they can email wic@como.gov.