Saturday, May 25, 2013

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Spring break meal program available

POLK COUNTY -- Children throughout Polk County will be on spring break for a week beginning Monday. For some, the break from school may also mean a break from receiving free and low-cost nutritious meals at school.

March 19, 2013

POLK COUNTY -- Children throughout Polk County will be on spring break for a week beginning Monday. For some, the break from school may also mean a break from receiving free and low-cost nutritious meals at school.

To reduce such an impact, the Spring Break Community Lunch Program will offer free lunch to all children ages 1 to 18.

Marion-Polk Food Share is once again coordinating the Spring Break Community Lunch Program. This year's program encompasses 45 sites in Polk and Marion counties that expect to serve about 9,000 meals and hand out thousands of books for children to take home.

Beginning Monday and continuing through March 29 from noon to 1 p.m., 10 sites in Polk County will offer a nutritious lunch for free. No registration is required.

"We want people to spread the word about this program to make sure that every child who needs food gets it," Cheryl Wells, volunteer program coordinator, said.

"We know there's a need because the regional food bank network is currently serving about 16,000 children each month through their emergency food box program. Also, nearly 40,000 children are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch at their schools in our two-county service area."

In Polk County, 52.8 percent of school-age children qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program.

Lunches will be served at the following Polk County locations:

* Whitworth Elementary School, 1151 SE Miller St., Dallas.

* Dallas High School, 1250 SE Holman Ave., Dallas.

* Lyle Elementary School, 185 SW Levens St., Dallas.

* LaCreole Middle School, 701 SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas.

* Henry Hill Elementary School, 750 S. 5th St., Independence.

* Colonia Amistad, 30 S. Gun Club Road, Independence.

* Mountain Gospel Fellowship, 303 N. Main St., Falls City.

* Glen Creek Village Apartments, 1320 Orchard Heights Road NW, West Salem.

* Harritt Elementary School, 2112 Linwood St. NW, West Salem.

* West Salem Boys & Girls Club, 925 Gerth NW, West Salem.

Volunteers are still needed to help hand out lunches.

For more information about the program: 503-581-3855.

You Can Help

* Marion-Polk Food Share needs volunteers to help with this year's Spring Break Community Lunch Program, scheduled March 25-29 at various locations in Polk County.

Individuals are needed to help make and pack lunches at MPFS headquarters in Salem, and serve lunches and do enrichment activities with the children at program sites where a nutritious meal is provided free of charge during spring break.

The Spring Break Community Lunch Program will take place at sites in the Polk County communities of Dallas, Independence, Falls City and West Salem. A list of meal sites is available online at www.marionpolkfoodshare.org.

For more information or to volunteer: Toni Sisneros, 503-569-6500; email to sisnerost@gmail.com.