SALYERSVILLE – Magoffin County Schools’ annual summer feeding program is underway with even more perks this year.
Magoffin County Schools Superintendent Chris Meadows told Mortimer Media Group, “We’re excited to be able to offer this opportunity, again. This is something we have done for several years and our board is always extremely supportive and making sure that we provide nutritious meals throughout the summer to any of our students.”
While he said “students,” Meadows clarified that the program is open for all children ages 1 through 18.
This year, they have partnered with the Office of Teaching and Learning through the Kentucky Department of Education to provide academic materials.
“This is an initiative to support learning in addition to food service and we are very excited about that because we are one of 34 districts in the state that were given this opportunity,” Meadows explained.
The summer feeding program started on Monday, June 9, with pickup days set for Mondays and Thursdays throughout the summer. For the Monday pickup day, children will receive a hot meal for that day and bulk items for breakfast and lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursdays they will receive a hot meal for that day, and also breakfast and lunch items for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“So, there is something for every day,” Meadows explained.
Last year the district prepared approximately 500 meals per day during the summer feeding program, and Meadows said they hope to exceed that this year.
The Magoffin County Schools Food Service Director Andrew Oliver said families can go to any of the sites on Mondays and Thursdays and pickup the meals and extra items from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and all of the mobile routes and the times they will be at those locations is available below.
“Look for those Magoffin County Schools Food Service vans to be out and delivering those meals,” Oliver said. “They’re also utilizing the Magoffin County Ford Explorer vehicle that we have, so look for those.”
There will be three mobile routes going to different locations throughout the county, with most of the locations and times staying the same as last year.
“Along with those hot meals on Mondays and Thursdays, students will also receive some items to take home for the following days,” Oliver said. “This year we’ve look at getting some shelf-stable items that way, if students don’t have refrigeration and stuff, it’s not going to spoil and they can have that for those days between the pickup days. Even the milk, we’ve got some shelf stable milk, so it’s liquid milk and it doesn’t have to be refrigerated until it’s opened.”
Oliver said that along with the food service staff, someone from the central office will be coming to each of the locations at those times to help hand out the Summer Boost Program materials, as well.
Magoffin County Schools Director of Federal Programs Minerva Arnett said it is a very big honor for the district to be selected for the Summer Boost Program to provide reading and math items along with the summer feeding program.
“The Summer Boost Program is actually sponsored in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education and the Office of Teaching and Learning and our school district,” Arnett said. “As part of this program, parents will have the opportunity to bring their children out to the different mobile sites throughout the county, as well as at the Magoffin County High School, and be able to get resources that have been provided.”
Arnett explained that they will have classic books families will probably find familiar, like “Old Yeller,” “Hatchet” and “Charlotte’s Web,” but they will also offer a lot of literature that aims at inspiring creativity and interest in various job fields.
“We have been very blessed to receive these books,” Arnett said. “If we were to put a monetary value on it, we’re probably looking at around $15,000 worth of books through this program and we just want those books to go into the homes.”
Arnett said that along with the other items handed out at the mobile routes, they will also receive a QR code that parents or students with a mobile device can use to access an online site for math activities to help boost student learning,
“That’s what this program is all about,” Arnett said. “Bridging that connection between the end of school and then school starting back in August, just keeping their minds fresh, active and learning, and that’s what we want to promote.”
Arnett said there will be something new and exciting each week, such as bracelets and backpacks, distributing different little incentives that have been provided through the Summer Boost Program.
Magoffin Co. Schools
Summer Feeding Program
June 9 – 26
July 7 – 31
Children ages 1 to 18 are invited to receive free, nutritious meals and fun extras twice a week. On Mondays, each child will receive a hot meal, along with a box containing breakfast and lunch items for Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursdays, children will again receive a hot meal, plus a box with breakfast and lunch items for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition to meals, children will also receive free books and fun items, such as wristbands, bookmarks, and drawstring backpacks.
Mobile Routes
Allen Drive
10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Sugar Camp
11:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
College Heights
11:55 a.m. – 12: 25 p.m.
Sand Bottom
10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Half Mountain Park
11:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
South Magoffin Fire Dept.
11:55 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.
Lake Front Church
10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
North Magoffin Elementary
11:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Bloomington Park
11:55 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
School Site
Meals will be available at Magoffin County High School 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
