FAYETTEVILLE -- Any child visiting the public library this summer can grab some lunch from the new, bulldog-decorated Fayetteville Schools food truck parked by the plaza from 12:30 to 1 p.m. weekdays.
The School District added the new mobile site to its list of places children can get lunches and snacks starting Monday, said Ally Mrachek, director of child nutrition for Fayetteville Public Schools.
The library contacted Mrachek after seeing the success of last year's pilot mobile site at the Yvonne Richardson Community Center on Rock Street, she said. Both Mrachek and Sam Palmer, library director facilities, said the partnership seemed like a natural fit for expanding the summer meal program.
Children might enjoy a chicken drumstick with some potato wedges or Alfredo pasta with broccoli, depending on what's being offered for the day. Mrachek said they try to offer something different each day of the month.
"Connecting with existing summer youth programming to serve meals and snacks is the key to serving more kids healthy meals throughout the summer months. We love partnering with other entities who share the purpose of serving kids in our community, and it's a win-win for all involved," Mrachek said.
School summer food programs
Bentonville
• Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. and lunch at 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday from June 5 through July 28 at Jones Elementary School, 500 S.E. 14th St.
Rogers
Meals will be served Monday through Friday from June 4 through Aug. 3, except July 4:
• Heritage High School, 1114 S. 5th St., 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon
• Mathias Elementary School, 1609 N 24th St., 11 a.m.-noon
• New Tech High School, 2922 S 1st St., 11 a.m.-noon
• Lowell Elementary School, 202 McClure Ave., 11 a.m.-noon
• Rogers Activity Center, 315 W Olive St., 8-8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Mobile Sites and approximate times:
• Double Tree Apartments pavilion, 601 W. Easy St., 11-11:30 a.m.
• Center for Nonprofits, 1200 W. Walnut St., 11:30 a.m.-noon
• Southwind Apartments near mail pavilion, 2200 N. 12th St., 11:15-11:45 a.m.
• Rogers Professional Learning Center near RHS Fieldhouse, 2100 W. Perry Road, 11:15-11:45 a.m.
• Meadow Park Apartments pavilion, 840 N. 16th St., 12:15-12:45 p.m.
• Westbrook Apartments, 2300 W. Persimmon St., 12:15-12:35 p.m.
• War Eagle Day Camp on North Storage Parkway, noon-12:30 p.m.
Springdale
Lunch will be served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from June 4 through Aug. 3, except July 4, at:
• Bayyari Elementary School, 2199 Scottsdale St.
• Elmdale Elementary School, 420 N. West End Ave.
• George Elementary School, 2878 S. Powell St.
• Childers-Knapp Elementary School, 2634 Oriole St.
• Parson Hills Elementary School, 2326 Cardinal Drive
• Jones Elementary School, 900 S. Powell St., only June 4-29
Source: Staff report
Benefit dinner
Matthew McClure, executive chef at The Hive in 21c Museum Hotel will host a dinner Monday to benefit the nonprofit group No Kid Hungry. The dinner will feature nationally known guest chefs Jamie Bissonnette of Boston, Anita Lo of New York City, and Arkansas chefs Jason Paul and Luke Wetzel. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception. Dinner and a live auction follow.
No Kid Hungry is a national campaign that works to end childhood hunger by ensuring kids get a nutritious breakfast and families learn to shop and cook on a budget. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit NoKidHungry.org/Ben….
Source: Staff report
Palmer said it's both a great way to attract children and their families to the library and help many already coming through its doors.
Anyone 18 or younger can have a free meal. The program is designed to ensure all children have access to nutritious meals, especially the 40 percent of Fayetteville students that qualify for free and reduced-price lunches, according to the district. No child will be singled out, Palmer said.
"So many people come through the doors each day. We are just naturally inclined to bring in these kids," Palmer said. "Some of our summer reading kids are low income and food insecure. We also find that there's a lot that are not. Understanding that is a great educational moment for them. That's part of the reason that we think it's a great partnership, because we did not want them to have that feeling of who is food insecure."
The Richardson Center again will be serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, Mrachek said. Both sites will be closed July 4.
The main location for the summer program will continue to be Owl Creek School on Rupple Road, she said. Lunches will be available there from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and snacks from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. A meal will be available for adults for $3.50 only at Owl Creek.
The federal government reimburses the School District for lunch and snack costs, Mrachek. The custom food truck cost the district $41,409 total, she said.
The program served an average of 400 students per day in 2017, said acting superintendent John L Colbert said. They anticipate serving about 600 per day this summer, he said.
"I am excited to see the continued increase in the number of students served by our summer lunch and snack program," Colbert said. "This program has served our community well for many years, and we're happy to be able to expand the program to reach more students with healthy, nutritious meals during the summer."
NW News on 06/03/2018