by Marcus Washington
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Four out of five Metro Nashville Public School students are on free or reduced lunch. Now that school's out, thousands of families are left wondering how they'll feed their kids.
Monday marked the first day of summer camp for many kids in Davidson County.
At Hadley Park's program, more than 100 kids are enrolled in the summer program where they jump, kick, run and have fun all day.
This activity can easily work up an appetite for anyone. Around noon, students start to eat lunch.Many kids will rely on box lunches delivered to the community center every day.
These meals are part of the Metro Action Commission's Summer Food Service Program that provides some 4,000 free meals a day.
"I got apple sauce and raisins, but I don't really like them," said 8-year-old Cleo Lowe.
The great thing about the summer lunch program is a student does not have to be enrolled in a summer camp. As long as you are 18-years-old or younger and there are lunches available, you can pick up a lunch at more than 100 sites in Davidson County.
"We were over at the library and she (mother) said, 'if you guys get hungry, they are giving out lunches over here.' so we came up here," said 15-year-old Shena Wescottt.
Barbra Manuel with Hadley Park says, "The word gets out in the community that summer lunch program, we can go and pick up a free healthy lunch. So they will normally show up and we will have lunches available."
Manual works at the Hadley Park Community Center and she says she sees the need for a program that provides free meals for kids--but also helping parents.
"It's always very healthy and they learn how to eat new things or different kinds of things as well," she says.
The Summer Food Service Program continues until July 27th.
For a list of sites and find one near you, visit the Metro Action Commission.
