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School districts stepping up to offer students free lunch during the summer
Scott Simmons
Weekend Anchor/Reporter
School districts stepping up to offer students free lunch during the summer
WE STILL HAVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS IN PLACE FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL KIDS. >> THEY CAN GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND IN MANY INSTANCES, I THINK THAT’S THE BEST WAY IN WHICH TO DO IT. THE MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR JOINED A HANDFUL OF OTHER GOVERNORS TO OPT OUT OF A FEDERALLY FUNDED SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM. >> IT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED MONEY FOR AN EBT PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. >> YOU CAN LOOK AND SEE THE THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. AND SO WE KNOW THAT IN MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, THERE IS A NEED FOR OUR CHILD NUTRITION. >> THE MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS OFFERING A SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL KIDS FOR TWO WEEKS. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO AN SMITH ELEMENTARY IN RIDGELAND AND COINCIDE WITH THE DISTRICT’S ENGLISH LEARNERS CAMP. YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT TO GET IT. >> IT’S FREE TO CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF RESIDENCY, SO KIDS FROM JACKSON, KIDS FROM CLINTON, KIDS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES ALONG WITH CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN MADISON COUNTY ARE WELCOME TO COME AND GET FREE BREAKFAST AND FREE LUNCH. >> THE RANKIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS IT IS NOT OFFERING A SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM. JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOL SAYS IT WILL, BUT OFFERING NO DETAILS YET. >> SO THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS THAT IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS OF THE CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT’S FOR ALL THE STUDENTS OR ALL THE CHILDREN AGES ZERO THROUGH 18. IN THE CLINTON COMMUNITY, CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS IT WILL START OFFERING SOME SUMMER MEALS NEXT MONTH THROUGH ITS PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE USDA. SO WE’RE OFFERING THIS FOR FOUR WEEKS. AND FROM STARTING ON JUNE THE 3RD, WE’LL GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE THAT LAST FRIDAY OF JUNE, AND THE FAMILIES CAN COME IN AND PICK UP A LUNCH BETWEEN 11:00 AND 1:00.
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School districts stepping up to offer students free lunch during the summer
Scott Simmons
Weekend Anchor/Reporter
School is out and for some kids, it’s a welcome break. But for parents, one worry might be making sure those children are fed during the day.Several school districts are stepping up to offer them free lunches, despite Gov. Tate Reeves turning down federal funding that would have covered summer lunches. The governor said the federally funded summer meals program wasn’t needed in Mississippi.“We still have federal programs in place for our individual kids where they can go to the schools, and in many instances, I believe that is the best way in which to do it,” Reeves said. It would have provided EBT cards for groceries for eligible families with children. Thirty-five states are taking the money.The Madison County School District is one of a handful of districts in the area offering a summer meals program for school kids. For two weeks, they will be able to go to Ann Smith Elementary. It will tie in with the district’s English Learners Camp. The feeding program is not limited to those who live in the district. “That is free to children, regardless of residency. Kids from Jackson, kids from Clinton, kids from other communities, along with children who live in Madison County are welcome to come to get free breakfast and free lunch,” said Gene Graham, with the Madison County School District.The Rankin County School District is not offering a summer program. Jackson Public Schools is offering a summer feeding program, tap here for details.Robert Chapman, with Clinton Public Schools, said the district will start offering summer meals next month.“The great thing about this program is that it is not just for the students of the Clinton Public School District, but all the children ages 0-18 in the Clinton community,” Chapman said.The program is funded through the USDA. Tap here to find Summer Meals for Kids locations.“We are offering this for four weeks starting on June 3 and will go all the way through that last Friday in June,” Chapman said. “The families can come pick up a lunch between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
MADISON COUNTY, Miss. —

School is out and for some kids, it’s a welcome break. But for parents, one worry might be making sure those children are fed during the day.

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Several school districts are stepping up to offer them free lunches, despite Gov. Tate Reeves turning down federal funding that would have covered summer lunches. The governor said the federally funded summer meals program wasn’t needed in Mississippi.

“We still have federal programs in place for our individual kids where they can go to the schools, and in many instances, I believe that is the best way in which to do it,” Reeves said.

It would have provided EBT cards for groceries for eligible families with children. Thirty-five states are taking the money.

The Madison County School District is one of a handful of districts in the area offering a summer meals program for school kids. For two weeks, they will be able to go to Ann Smith Elementary. It will tie in with the district’s English Learners Camp. The feeding program is not limited to those who live in the district.

“That is free to children, regardless of residency. Kids from Jackson, kids from Clinton, kids from other communities, along with children who live in Madison County are welcome to come to get free breakfast and free lunch,” said Gene Graham, with the Madison County School District.

The Rankin County School District is not offering a summer program. Jackson Public Schools is offering a summer feeding program, tap here for details.

Robert Chapman, with Clinton Public Schools, said the district will start offering summer meals next month.

“The great thing about this program is that it is not just for the students of the Clinton Public School District, but all the children ages 0-18 in the Clinton community,” Chapman said.

The program is funded through the USDA. Tap here to find Summer Meals for Kids locations.

“We are offering this for four weeks starting on June 3 and will go all the way through that last Friday in June,” Chapman said. “The families can come pick up a lunch between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.