News

Sep 17, 2023

Painesville City Schools launches 2023 Lunch Box mobile summer meal program

Jun. 6—Painesville City School District has launched its 2023 Lunch Box summer

Jun. 6—Painesville City School District has launched its 2023 Lunch Box summer meal program, which will travel to five locations throughout the city to provide free weekday lunches for children 18 years and younger.

The district's food truck will deliver lunches every weekday from June 5 to Aug. 4, except for federal holidays on June 19 and July 4. The district's website notes that students will choose three or more lunch items, including at least one serving of a fruit or vegetable, while a daily menu will be available on the website or on the My School Menus app.

The truck will visit the following locations at the same time each day, as noted on the website, which added that locations may change:

—11:00-11:15 a.m.: Harvey High School, 200 W. Walnut St.

—11:30-11:45 a.m.: Chestnut Elementary School back lot, 341 Chestnut St.

—Noon-12:15 p.m.: Maple Elementary School, 560 W. Jackson St.

—12:30-12:45 p.m.: Elm Street Elementary School back lot, 585 Elm St.

—1:00-1:15 p.m.: State Street Park, 384 S. State St.

Participants are required to eat their lunches on-site.

District Director of Nutritional Services Kelly Minnick added that the program is open to all children, whether or not they live in the city. People with food allergies or other dietary restrictions can call Lunch Box manager Shanon Berwald at 440-392-5127.

"The summer lunch program is important to families and children because it bridges the gap during the summer for those who rely on receiving meals at school and for those who face food insecurity," she said. "In a typical summer, we serve between 8,000-10,000 meals. The Lunch Box allows families to know there is at least one meal a day that they don't have to worry about."

Minnick added that the lunches are served at Harvey High School when there is inclement weather. Updates will be posted to the district's Facebook page.

The mobile meal program began in 2016, noted the district website, which added that it was recognized as the 2016 Summer Program of the Year by the Ohio-based Children's Hunger Alliance.

The news release noted that the Lunch Box program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Seamless Summer Option, part of the National School Lunch Program.

Minnick added that Lunch Box partners with the district's Summer XP learning and enrichment program, which includes free lunches.

Summer XP is designed for students from pre-K through grade 12, noted the district's Facebook page. Weekly themes include sports, carnival games and reptiles.

Summer XP runs from 12-1:30 p.m. at Maple Elementary on Mondays, Chestnut Elementary on Tuesdays and Elm Street Elementary on Wednesdays, starting on June 5 and ending on Aug. 2. There will be no sessions on June 19 and July 4.