Everybody loves Taco Tuesday.
In Berkeley County School District’s summer meal program, technically the entrée is referred to as “Walking Tacos” – it consists of ground beef with black beans, nacho cheese and salsa. Lots of students enjoy eating the dish with a bag of Doritos.
Benita Smith, Director of Child Nutrition Services (CNS) for BCSD, said Walking Tacos is such a hit during the school year, it definitely deserved to be on the menu for the summer meal program. Walking Tacos are being served every Tuesday. Some other fan favorites are also on the menu throughout the week – like chicken sandwiches and pizza.
“We take the most popular items that they eat during the school year and that is what we want to make sure we’re feeding them during the summer,” she said.
BCSD’s summer meal program is in full swing, serving breakfast and lunch to all children under the age of 18 every week, Monday through Thursday.
The Seamless Summer Option (SSO) allows school districts to provide free summer meals in low-income areas during the traditional summer vacation periods. It is an extension of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Free breakfast and lunch meals that meet Federal nutrition guidelines are provided to all children and teens at approved SSO sites.
CNS staff members remain committed to serving food to children – because hunger does not take a break.
“We are making a positive difference by ensuring our children get what they need during the summer,” Smith said.
As Berkeley County continues to grow, so does the amount of meals CNS during the summer program. The program kicked off on June 3 and as of June 18, CNS has served 19,523 meals to children – roughly a little over 4,000 meals a day over the course of 11 days. Lunch time is typically more well attended than breakfast time at the district’s nine feeding sites (see list below).
CNS Supervisor Nancy Weiland likes to compare summer numbers to the previous year’s numbers; last year, CNS distributed about 3,000 meals a day within the first two weeks of the program.
The program comes with some parameters – USDA guidelines state that the meals need to be eaten on-site; children cannot take the food with them (unless it is something like a leftover fresh fruit or bag of chips).
“To get reimbursement to pay for the food for the program, we have to follow their rules, and one of their rules is they have to eat it on-site,” Weiland said.
If there is a family in need and has trouble getting to one of BCSD’s feeding sites, CNS can help them get in touch with Lowcountry Food Bank, which can help get food delivered to their home.
There are about 14 outside organizations that pick food up from the feeding sites through a special application process; families can contact 1-866-3-HUNGRY for the nearest site location.
Smith said something CNS really wants to stress is that the summer meal program is for families from all walks of life.
“We want to make sure all the parents know that it’s an option for everyone,” Smith said.
There are also social aspects to the program as well; CNS staff noted gathering for summer meals is a great way for parents to meet and for students to make friends and develop social skills during the summer.
Rising St. Stephen Elementary fourth grader Kali Smalls is going to be new to the school this year, so while she eating her Walking Taco plate at the school last Tuesday (it is her favorite meal, too) she and her mom, Janae, said the summer meal program has been a great way for Kali to get acquainted with her new school.
Janae said the Summer Feeding Program helps her out a lot with figuring out lunch for Kali.
“It means a lot to me,” Janae said. “I really appreciate that (BCSD) thinks about the kids outside of school hours.”
Janae also used to work the summer meal program herself some time ago, and said she learned how much work goes into feeding students on a daily basis.
“It was a lot to take in,” she said. “I appreciated the cafeteria staff a whole lot more because no one understands all the prepping they have to do on a daily basis just take make sure they’re prepared.”
Some families have shown their appreciation through thank-you cards to the summer managers running the feeding sites. Samantha Gathers, summer manager at St. Stephen Elementary, said she loves seeing students get excited when they come into the cafeteria.
“I love that we are able to feed the kids even though that are out of school for the summer,” she said. “I love kids in general.”
The program will continue to run through Thursday, July 26 (it will be closed on the Fourth of July).
The following locations will be open Monday through Thursday. Breakfast will be served between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and lunch will be served from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
Locations
• Berkeley Middle School - 320 North Live Oak Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
• Cane Bay Middle School - 1175 Cane Bay Blvd, Summerville, SC 29486
• Cross High School - 1293 Old Hwy 6, Cross, SC 29436
• Devon Forest Elementary School - 1127 Dorothy Street, Goose Creek, SC 29445
• Foxbank Elementary School - 169 Foxbank Plantation Blvd, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
• Goose Creek Elementary School - 200 Foster Creek Road, Goose Creek, SC 29445
• Phillip Simmons Middle School - 2065 Seven Sticks Drive, Wando, SC 29492
• St. Stephen Elementary School - 1053 Russellville Road, St. Stephen, SC 29479
• Westview Primary School - 98 Westview Boulevard, Goose Creek, SC 29445
