Hammond
Congressman has hopes for funding reauthorization
For years the School City of Hammond has participated in federal nutrition program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the Indiana Department of Education.
The program is designed to meet the needs of low-income children in areas where children may have limited access to good nutrition.
“It’s a great program,” Visclosky said. “I’m very concerned with public education in the United States but also nutritional program for kids in school.”
Visclosky, D-Gary, chairs the Defense Appropriations Committee and said 79 percent of young people in the United States are not eligible to join the military today because of lack of educational attainment and health problems.
“If you don’t have good nutrition you are not in a position to learn and you are not going to contribute to society so I think this is vitally important,” he said. “We are looking at the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act which has not been reauthorized since 2010. So just visiting these programs help as far as looking at legislation in Washington.”
Hammond Director of Food and Nutrition Services Christine Clarahan said they work hard to draw the kids in.
“It is a huge financial burden for families to feed a lot of kids in the summer,” she said. “We prepare all food here with a dedicated staff and the menu changes every day and there are always two options.
Clarahan said the program is open to anyone 18 and under and families can bring relatives and others who may be visiting during the summer.
Hammond Schools Superintendent Scott Miller said the School City of Hammond doesn’t just look at the academic needs of students, it looks at the whole child.
“This is one of the ways we are addressing the needs of the whole child, family and community and not just having a focus on academics,” he said.
Stephanie Castro, of Hammond, brings her son and his cousins to Edison almost every day.
“It’s great,” she said. “They do so much for them here and it is very useful during the summer. And the ladies who work here are awesome.”
The School City of Hammond also offers breakfast in the morning, and Castro said they will be attending those as well.
The School City of Hammond has been participating in the Summer Food Service Program since the very early 1980s. Last summer, the program in Hammond served more than 58,000 breakfast and lunches during the summer, officials said.
According to the Indiana Department of Education, nearly 250 school and community sponsors, children 18 and younger across the state will have access to free meals and snacks throughout the summer break.
“Providing children access to wholesome and nutritious meals during the summer months is important to their well-being,” said Jennifer McCormick, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
For more than 40 years, the Summer Food Service Program has provided eligible children and youth with access to free, nutritious meals and snacks during the summer months. In 2018, Indiana sponsors served nearly 2.7 million meals across the state. Site locations and meal service times vary throughout Indiana, and locations range from parks and community centers to schools, churches, neighborhoods, and mobile feeding sites.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE
