ARTICLE BY: Benjamin Walker IV
It’s a well known fact that many children around the world struggle with hunger and it’s no exception in Arkansas. A vast amount of kids rely heavily on the meals provided at their schools for nourishment, but when the school year ends and summer break comes around, they find themselves with little to eat, which results in negative impacts on a growing child's health, academic learning , and overall well-being.
The Little Rock School District has made this issue a top priority and has made efforts to combat it with the Summer Meal Program, a way to provide nutritional and filling meals to families and children 18 years old and younger struggling with food insecurities. LRSD’s director of Child Nutrition, Stephanie Walker Hynes, is an advocate of ensuring that no kid goes hungry: “As the director of Child Nutrition, I believe every student deserves access to delicious and nutritious meals at school. Nutritious food fuels learning, supports healthy growth, and ensures students are ready to succeed in the classroom each day,” she said.
“To support students who may struggle with access to healthy meals outside of school, we offer programs such as free and reduced-price meals and summer feeding. In some of our schools, we have food pantries to assist with weekend meals. These efforts help bridge the gap, ensuring no child goes hungry and all students have the nourishment they need to thrive year-round.”
The Child Nutrition Department has sent out a list to the LRSD website regarding the various meal program locations and addresses, days of operation, the starting and final days of each program location, and the serving hours for breakfast and lunch.
The program sites and dates are as follows:
From now through the 8th of August: Central Arkansas Library system will give out “Be Mighty Meals”.
From now through the 31st of July: “Bridge to Success Meals” at the Laman Library (Monday-Thursday)
From now through the 24th of July: Gibbs Magnet Elementary (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 24th of July: Stephens Elementary (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 25th of July: Chicot Elementary (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 25th of July: Geyer Springs ECC (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 25th of July: Fair Park ECC (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 25th of July: Rockefeller ECC (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 25th of July: Romine ECC (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 3rd of July: Central High (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 3rd of July: Parkview High (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 17th of July: Lacey K-8 Academy (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 25th of July: Southwest High (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 27th of July: Terry Elementary (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 18th of July: JA Fair K-8 Academy (Monday-Friday)
From now through the 18th of July: Pulaski Heights (Monday-Friday)
Every child’s health is extremely important to LRSD. Not only for the District, but for student’s families, and for their future as they grow up. No child should ever go hungry, nor should they ever ask themselves, “Will there be anything to eat at home?” LRSD strives to make a difference and a long-lasting impact to the community with this program, to ensure that the District takes care of its own. This District will do its utmost and beyond that to properly nurture the future generation by keeping their bellies full. For more resources, please visit the link below: