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OPS' Summer Meals Program Helps With the Summer Gap

OPS has been offering a Summer Meals Program since 1991.  Tammy Yarmon, Director of Nutrition for OPS, says they anticipate serving around 10,000 meals this summer.

Yarmon says children 1 to 18 are eligible, and they do not have to be OPS students.  During the month of June, breakfast and lunch are provided at over 60 program sites free of charge.

Additionally, Yarmon says a donor through the Food Bank for the Heartland has provided funds again this year to cover a meal for an adult attending with a child.

Yarmon says this program helps cover the gap during the summer months, when families may struggle to replace the meals their kids get at school during the school year.

“And it’s so important because there are a lot of other – you know, things that happen in a family’s life, where they could use the funds for electricity, for air conditioning, or electricity to pay for a fan, or fuel to go to a job. We know in a district such as ours, where it’s 75% Free and Reduced (meals), the need is there.”

Yarmon says the number of sites where meals are available will decline after summer school ends on June 29th, but there will be some sites available until July 27th.  The hours meals are served can vary somewhat, and the schedule can be found at OPS.org or by calling 531-299-0230.