Home children and families food and drink local news News schools

Where Students Can Grab Nutritious Meals This Summer in Merced County

Single Sparkle
Single Sparkle
Updated: • 0 • min read
Table of Contents

Merced County students receiving meals at school during the year will still be able to get them during the summer break.

"We have a lot of students that depend on the meals they receive at school throughout the year, and once we get into summer, a lot of those families are still in need," Carl Schwesinger, food services supervisor at the Atwater Elementary School District, said. "So for us to be able to provide those families with an option and continue those meals through summer or continue them all year round is very important for our community and the families."

Atwater Elementary is one of several in Merced County that provide meals to students. Merced City School District, as well as school districts in Le Grand, El Nido, Livingston, Delhi, Hilmar and Winton will continue providing food for children up to age 18.

Schwesinger said this is the first year since the coronavirus pandemic that the Atwater Elementary district will be serving meals at schools.

"The last several years, we've done the feeding at the parks, but we're a big walking district," he said. By serving at schools, students will be in a climate-controlled environment. It "also gives us more opportunities to make hot meals and a larger variety of menu choices," he said

The district expects to serve between 250 and 300 meals a day and is "hoping for more" according to Schwesinger.

Here is a partial list of distribution sites. Most are only open Monday through Friday and closed during the holidays.

Merced City School District

  • Central Presbyterian Church: noon-2 p.m. June 16-July 25

  • Gracey Elementary: 1:15-1:45 p.m. June 16-July 16

  • Wright Elementary: 1:15-1:45 p.m. June 16-July 16

  • Peterson Elementary: 1:30-2 p.m. June 16-July 16

  • Burbank Elementary: 1:30-2 p.m. June 16-July 16

  • WIC: 11 a.m.-noon June 16-July 25

  • Boys and Girls Club: 7:30-8:30 a.m. (breakfast) and 12:30-1 p.m. (lunch) June 9-August 1

  • Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Zion Church: 11 a.m.-noon June 16-July 25

  • Lifeline CDC Meadows Apartments Loughborough Center: 11 a.m.-noon June 16-July 25

  • Lifeline CDC McNamara Center: 11 a.m.-noon June 16-July 25

A full list of Merced City School District sites and distribution times is available by texting "Summer" to 914-342-7744. All sites are closed Juneteenth and July 4.

Atwater Elementary School District locations

  • Elmer Wood Elementary: 8:30-9:30 a.m. (breakfast) and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (lunch) June 9-July 25

  • Heller Park: lunch 11:30 a.m.-noon June 9 to July 25

  • Juniper Elementary: 8:30-9:30 a.m. (breakfast) and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (lunch) June 9-July 25

  • Mitchell Elementary: 8:30-9:30 a.m. (breakfast) and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (lunch) June 9-July 25

  • Osborne Park: 11:30 a.m.-noon June 9 to July 25

  • Veterans Park: 10:45-11:15 a.m. June 9 to July 25

A menu will be posted on the Atwater district website.

Livingston Union School District

  • Arakelian Park: 11-11:20 a.m. June 9-July 11

  • Casita Del Sol: 10:30-10:50 a.m. June 9-July 11

  • Lucero Park: 11:30-11:50 a.m. June 9-July 11

  • Olive Tree Apartments: noon-12:20 p.m. June 9-July 11

  • Livingston Middle School: 8-8:30 a.m. (breakfast) and 11:30-noon (lunch) June 9-July 3

  • Yamato Colony Elementary: 8-8:30 a.m. (breakfast) and 11:30-noon (lunch) June 9-July 11

Children must be accompanied by a parent to receive food. Terah Brasher, the director of child nutrition, said this is a California Department of Education rule.

"It's hard for parents who do work. I know that it's hard because they have to be present as well. I hope that's something that CDE will look into, and maybe just have kids be present," she said.

Brasher said participation has been low with 60 meals across all sites being a high mark but is trying to get the word out at sites and apartment complexes.

Menus are available on the Livingston Union School District website. The program ends July 11.

Food pantries

The Merced County Food Bank maintains a list of organizations which provide emergency food assistance including programs specifically designed to help elderly residents.

SUN Bucks

Families with school-age children can also receive $40 per month from June through August on an EBT card to help purchase groceries when kids are not in school. Children receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs or Medi-Cal, or eligible for free or reduced cost lunch are automatically enrolled and others can submit a school meal application or universal benefits application through their school.

SUN Bucks is a federal program created in 2022 and run in the state by the California Department of Social Services.

The latest local, national and international news delivered every weekday morning.

Post a Comment