Students won't go hungry in the summer
4:42 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, 2007
School's out, but students across Topeka are getting help from the school district. And they might go hungry without it. This year, Topeka Public Schools is serving more summer meals than ever before.
Here is who's getting the meals and the difference it makes.
Whether it's mac and cheese or little smokies, one thing's for sure. The captains with the Topeka 501 school district are busy serving up thousands of meals and some buried treasure, keeping the tummies full and the kids ready to learn.
It takes a little hustle, and a little creativity, but serving up more than 2,000 meals a day and more than 65,000 over two months is no sweat for these lunch ladies.
"A lot of times, this is the only meals these kids get," Bonnie Stovall said.
For more than 20 years, the Topeka 501 school district has held its summer meal program, giving kids all over the Capital City a good meal even when they're not hitting the books.
"Feed kids, being able to help someone we know needs it, make sure they get a balanced meal," Stoval said.
The kids just seem to enjoy the food.
"You get lots of energy from the food," fourth grader Zora Green said.
While meal time may be the gold ticket for most kids, for some parents, it's about keeping kids on top of their game.
"It helps them improve their math and reading," parent Sharren Anderson said.
And though it may not exactly be mom's kitchen: "Is it as good as mom's cooking? No!" one student said.
There's no question, thanks to Topeka 501, these little pirates can tell hunger to go walk the plank.
You don't have to live in the 501 district for your child to receive the meals.
To sign up , call 785-295-3070 or visit the Topeka 501 food service site.
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