Free summer lunch served up at schools
Megan Strickland
De-Ja-Nay Littlemarry smiles over school lunch.
Megan Strickland
Children make artwork out of macaroni noodles.
Megan Strickland
Rozlynn Blumel paints a bowtie pasta.
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Rozlynn Blumel paints a bowtie pasta.
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
Megan Strickland
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RONAN – Most of the halls of Ronan High School were eerily empty last week, but the laughter of young De-Ja-Nay Littlemarry rang through the cafeteria as she ran up to the feeding line to peak into the warming trays.
“Lunchtime! Luchtime!” she sang as the smell of chicken wafted through the air.
“Not quite yet,” Food Service Supervisor Marsha Wartick said. “You’ve still got about five more minutes.”
The girl whizzed back to the table and snatched a multi-colored necklace. It had a few beads garnishing the main jewel, a single pink painted bowtie pasta that Wartick had pulled from the oven a few minutes earlier. Littlemarry admired the artwork and swung it around her neck.
“Come on,” Littlemarry said in sing-song to the seven or eight other children finishing up their artwork. “Let’s get in line. It’s almost lunchtime.”
Littlemarry and her friends headed through the line and received chicken nuggets, apple slices, milk, and other treats from smiling cafeteria ladies.
The meal is part of the No Kids Hungry summer feeding program taking place this summer in Ronan. The federally funded summer program provides breakfast and lunch for children up to age 18.
Wartick said Ronan was excited to receive funding to host the program this year because many students receive free or reduced lunches during the school year, but are left without those options in the summer months. The extra meals can mean extreme stretching of family budgets and time lost to meal preparation.
The school also received a $1,800 grant that helps provide activities to keep kids engaged, like creating bowtie pasta necklaces.
“We wanted to have something to help them feel comfortable when they come in,” Wartick said. “We’ve been researching different ideas on Pinterest.”
Students don’t have to be in a certain income bracket or live in Ronan to attend, Wartick said.
“They could be visiting grandma from out of state and still drop in and get something to eat,” she said.
Adults can get a huge bargain of a meal, also. The cost to grownups is $2.50 for breakfast and $4 for lunch.
Elizabeth Blumel had lunch at the cafeteria last week and said it was scrumptious.
“It’s awesome,” Blumel said. “I like their chicken patty sandwiches.”
Friend Keely Cran agreed, although another dish was her favorite.
“The pizza is the best,” Cran said. “You have to try it.”
Breakfast is served Monday-Friday from 8:15-10:30 a.m. Lunch is slated for 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., with craft time beginning between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Other sites participating in the Mission Valley include:
Arlee Schools, from June 6 - Aug. 8. Breakfast is 8:30-10:30 a.m., and lunch is served 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Charlo School, June 9 until July 31 – Breakfast is 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Monday-Thursday.
Dixon School, July 7 until Aug. 1, Monday through Friday. Breakfast is from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Salish Kootenai College Joe McDonald Center in Pablo, June 9 until Aug. 22, Monday-Thursday. Breakfast is from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Cherry Valley School, in Polson, June 16 until Aug. 8, Monday-Friday. Breakfast is from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. Lunch is from 11:00 a.m. until 1:15 p.m.
Some sites, like St. Ignatius schools, have already finished their summer feeding programs. To find information about a summer food site nearest you, call 800-809-4752 or text “lunch” to 877-877.
