Tri-County School Districts Launch Summer Meal Programs
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C.: Schools in the Tri-County area have initiated their summer meal programs aimed at providing free breakfast and lunch in low-income regions during most weekday summer months. Sponsored by both state and federal government resources, and the United States Department of Agriculture, these initiatives culminated in Berkeley County School District, which began its program from June 3.
Berkeley County Program Dynamics
Featuring nine meal serving sites, the district offers hot breakfast and lunch from Monday to Thursday. The program has been reported to receive several walk-ins from streets, kids who joined in for breakfast and lunch. Besides hosting meals for students, Berkeley County School District also fields meal preparations for other entities in their locale, including churches and summer camps.
Charleston County Initiatives
From June 17, the Charleston County School District will commence serving meals in over 130 locations. The district, which hosts around 50,000 children, witnesses half of that population qualify for free or subsidized meals during regular school terms. To ensure no child goes hungry in summer, Charleston County has set up about 10 meal-making sites that distribute food to participating organisations, such as churches, libraries, community centres, and camps, covering the entire county.
Some sites, depending on their registration statistics and camp attendance, remain closed. In contrast, others operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. The district provides grab-and-go-style breakfasts and fresh hot lunches at these sites.
Dorchester District’s Offerings
Beginning from June 17, Dorchester District Two will provide breakfast from Monday to Thursday at four distinct locations and meals from Monday to Friday in two areas. Based on the district’s free and reduced meals requirements, these schools have been selected since they cater to severe needs.
Federal Feeding Program
The federal summer feeding program’s unique feature allows any child under 18 to access free meals at open participation sites, irrespective of the district they study in. This inclusive approach ensures that no child remains deprived of a meal during the summer.
Those wanting clarification regarding meal access at a specific time or place can get in touch with their respective district or the specific site for detail.
The initiative to run these programs during the summer, conceived from the increased need that arose due to COVID, ensures continued learning for children juxtaposed with a balanced meal consisting of fruit, vegetables, and protein.
Meal Service Timings and Locations
Users need to verify the meal service timings and locations, taking note of potential updates through the summer. Below are the links to access more details on the dates and serving venues of the summer meal programs.
- Berkeley County School District Summer Meal Program
- Charleston County School District Summer Meals
- Dorchester School District Two Summer Option Meal Program
