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NWA, River Valley public schools offering free meals to kids all summer

The free meals will be served at Owl Creek School starting Monday, June 5.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Many school districts across our area are providing free meals while school is out this summer.

Fayetteville Public Schools (FPS) is offering free meals this summer to anyone 18 years or younger. 

“It’s so important to be able to feed kids in the summer, because there are a lot of kids that rely on the regular meals that they get at school on a daily basis. So this just continues that routine,” said Ted Whitehead.

Whitehead is the assistant director of child nutrition for the Fayetteville School District. He says district wide there are between 35% to 38% of students on free and reduced lunches, but these lunches are free to all kids up to 18 years old.

Meals will be served daily at Owl Creek School starting June 5, and continue through Aug. 4. They will be closed on June 19, and July 3-7, according to their website. 

FPS says the serving hours will be Monday through Friday, 10:45 a.m. -  1 p.m.

If you wish to receive a free meal but can't make it to this location, FPS says daily hot meals can also be picked up at any of the FPS food truck locations. 

“We will serve close to 500 students a day in this program between our creek and the three food truck sites,” he said.

The food truck locations are: 

  • Fayetteville Public Library 

401 West Mountain Street

10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

  • Yvonne Richard Community Center 

240 E. Rock Street

11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

  • American Legion

1195 South Curtis Avenue

12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Fort Smith Public Schools are serving breakfast and lunch at 10 schools throughout the district. 

Leigh Christian is the director of child nutrition for Fort Smith Schools. She says making sure all kids have a warm meal is something she and the district are very passionate about.

“Our community, unfortunately, has a high poverty rate, and is a very high free and reduced percentage. And we think that the summer program kind of reflects that need in the community. During the school year, there's so many kids that that's the only meals that they get. And they still need that in the summer,” said Leigh Christian.

She says about 71% of Fort Smith School students are on free and reduced lunches. Christina says the need for these meals is overwhelming.

“You wouldn't imagine the amount of students I want to take food home to brother and sister aren't here it you know, it's humbling. And I think you get to recognize them more if you're out there. And so while there are many kids that would still eat, I think it would affect a lot of families, you know, if they didn't have this option, there are some kids that utilize it every day,” she said.

Breakfast is served from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meals are free for kids up to 18 and anyone older can purchase breakfast for $2.50 and lunch for $4.00.

  • Barling Elementary
  • Beard Elementary
  • Howard Elementary
  • Morrison Elementary
  • Orr Elementary
  • Ramsey Middle School
  • Spradling Elementary
  • Sunnymede Elementary
  • Sutton Elementary
  • Tilles Elementary

The Springdale School District is providing free lunches from 11 a.m. to noon every weekday at Parson Hills Elementary from June 5th through July 14th. Lunches will be provided at Walker Elementary from June 19th through August 4th.

The Rogers School District will serve breakfast and lunch from June 5th through July 28th at Westside Elementary, Jones Elementary and Old Wire Elementary. Breakfast is from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch is from 11 a.m. to noon. 

Rogers also serves mobile lunches at the following locations:

  • DoubleTree Apartments

 601 W Easy Street

 11 a.m. to noon

  • Olivewood Apartments

 1006 N 31st Street

 11 a.m.

  • Westbrook  Apartments

 2300 W Persimmon

 11:15 a.m. 

  • Southwind  Apartments

 2200 N 12th Street

 11:15 a.m. 

  • Southwind  Apartments

 2200 N 12th Street

 11:15 a.m. 

  • Meadow Park  Apartments

 840 N 16th Street

 12:15 p.m. 

  • Word Nail Park Pavilion

 801 McClure

 12:15 p.m. 

  • Rogers Activity Center

 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

  • Bus stop at 10th & Olive Street

 11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

The Van Buren School District will serve free breakfast and lunch for all children 18 and under. The program will run weekdays from June 5th through June 30th.

  • King Elementary

Breakfast 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Lunch 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

  • The Back Yard Camp

Breakfast 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Lunch noon to 12:30 p.m.

  • Blakemore Field

Breakfast 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Lunch 11:30 a.m. to noon

  • Freedom Park

Lunch 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Bentonville School District will serve free breakfast and lunch weekdays through July 28th.

  • Bentonville High North

Breakfast 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Lunch 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • Mary Mae Jones Elementary

Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Lunch 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

  • Parking lot next to Bentonville Public Library

Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Posted by Fayetteville Public Schools on Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Posted by Fayetteville Public Schools on Wednesday, May 31, 2023

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