APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG
SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM
Since receiving the news our district was eligible, we have been busy searching for a venue within the eligible demographic area, contacting city officials, working with state agencies, planning menus, recruiting staff, meetings, and many numerous tasks needed to get this program off and running. Ideally, a district starts promoting two months out from the official kick-off date. Reality for us was about 6 weeks, after receiving confirmation, meeting with state official and getting a venue.
In order for this program to work, we MUST have attendance. This program only works if kids come to eat. Government allows a certain amount per reimbursable meal to help with cost of running the program, such as food, staff preparation, etc. This is a non-profit program, which means we need to be able to sustain this program through participation and community support.
Check out other areas on this site for more information regarding menus, volunteer opportunities, Q&A, and FAQS.
Looking forward to this great adventure.
Cindy
LOCATION
Miracle Park (next to the swimming pool)
Parkersburg, IA
ABOUT US
For the past several years, Food Service Director, Kathryn Patrick, has been working with state agencies to implement a summer lunch program in the Aplington-Parkersburg community. Due to the government guidelines, the process has been long and slow. Every year we were turned down as we didn't meet eligibility requirements.
In early 2019, this changed as our state liaison found a small demographic area within Parkersburg who met the requirements to start the program!
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The challenge was on. Not only were we ecstatic that the AP community was eligible for this worthy project, this was also the year for 2 USDA reviews. One was in the Grundy Center district, which co-shares our Food Service Director, and the other was at our elementary school in Parkersburg.
If you know anything of government, you know there was A LOT of paperwork involved from numerous school personnel including the superintendents, board secretaries, food service director, wellness committees....you get the picture.
