Schools feed more families this summer

One local school district fed significantly fewer children this summer, compared to past years, but more meals were served this summer than the year before.

Summer feeding sites hosted by Franklin and Greenwood schools fed more kids this summer as part of a federally-funded meal program, while Clark-Pleasant schools had a significant dip in its number of meals served, which officials believe may be a result of closing two sites. 

In total, more than 48,000 meals were served this summer, an increase of 6 percent from last year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides funding for the summer meal programs, which is offered to school districts where a significant number of students receive free or reduced-price meals.

In Johnson County, Greenwood, Franklin and Clark-Pleasant schools participate, and this year a program was added in Edinburgh by a local Girl Scout.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Clark-Pleasant fed 22 percent fewer families this year compared to last year, Food Services Director Kim Combs said. One explanation may be that they closed two sites this year — Greenwood Estates, a mobile home park, and Pebble Creek Apartments. Four sites remained open. 

“We had a couple sites that just weren’t performing well,” Combs said. 

They need to feed at least 25 kids a day at each site for a location to be financially feasible, she said. Combined, they averaged 226 a day at the four sites that remained open this summer. 

“We’re not really sure what is happening,” Combs said. “We think they may be getting their meals somewhere else. We just don’t know.” 

The school district didn’t receive a single phone call or complaint about the sites they decided to close this year, Combs said.

One observation she made is that more kids are being driven to the sites. In the past, they would walk or ride over on their bikes, she said.

“Maybe the demographics in our area are changing,” Combs said. 

District officials are still evaluating the data, she said, and they haven’t made any plans yet regarding next year’s program. 

Franklin schools had a 9 percent increase in the number of families they served at their six sites this summer, Food Services Director Jill Overton said. The district closed two sites this year and opened two new ones at the Franklin branch of the Johnson County Public Library and Payne Park downtown. 

“I’m really happy with what we were able to do this summer,” Overton said. “People really had to go out of their way to find us at Northwood. But that location continued to perform well.” 

Because of construction on U.S. 31, families eating at the at the entrance to Northwood Elementary School site could not use the main entrance to the school. They had to enter the back way, off Clark Street, which they anticipated would cause some confusion, she said. 

Food services staff took to the streets this summer to promote the new locations, she said. They posted several flyers — and handed out some — in the neighborhood around Payne Park. 

Overton thought more people would take advantage of the new site at the library, but has faith those numbers will go up now that the site is established, she said.

“I know that the first year at a new site is traditionally slow,” she said. 

They will continue to operate at the same locations next summer, but plan to start promoting the program earlier. 

“Honestly, we should probably start promoting as early as spring break,” Overton said. “The more times we say it, hopefully the more meals we will be able to serve.” 

Greenwood Community Schools, which hasn’t made any changes to its summer meal program for four years, fed more people this summer. 

The school district serves families at just one location — Isom Elementary School — and had a 26 percent increase in meals served this summer after they too experienced a dip in numbers last year. Food Services Director Cheryl Hargis has no idea why they’re seeing such fluctuation in their numbers, she said.

“We do pretty much the same thing every year. We advertise it the same way every year,” Hargis said. 

Greenwood has no plans to change their summer meal program next year, she said.

Abby Sweets, a Girl Scout in Edinburgh, launched a new program this year as well, which was hosted at Edinburgh United Methodist Church. Her mom, Sherri Sweets, said they served around 1,500 meals in just 16 days. 

“Phenomenal,” Sherri Sweets said. “It’s kind of unbelievable actually.” 

Most of the families they served live in the town of Edinburgh, but several kids came over from Shelby County as well. 

They plan to continue the program next year and hope to add a day. This year, they served meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the summer.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”By the numbers” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Here is a look at how many total meals each school district and church served this summer:

Franklin Community Schools served families at six locations this summer.

2018;38,144 

2017;35,114

Clark-Pleasant Schools served families at four locations this summer.

2018;7,223 meals provided

2017;9,246 meals provided

Greenwood Community Schools served families at one location this summer.

2018;1,279 meals provided

2017;1,016 meals provided

Edinburgh United Methodist Church served families at one location this summer. 

2018;1,500 meals provided

SOURCE: school districts and EUMC

[sc:pullout-text-end]