School lunch still in session

MONROE — Frank Wagner Elementary School was empty last week, but the lights were on in the cafeteria.

In the kitchen, a cook placed pans with cheese pizzas in the oven. Another sliced oranges. Baby carrots, already packaged, waited to be placed on trays.

It’s a daily routine at Frank Wagner and more than two dozen other schools and locations throughout Snohomish County. Even though it’s summertime, school districts are providing hundreds of meals each day for children at no charge.

“People are hungry all year long,” said Rosemary O’Neil, the Monroe School District spokeswoman.

The districts are participating in a federal program to feed school-age kids during the summer. In the county, the program has been running for at least the past 20 years. School district officials say that they have found through experience that the most complete meal some children get is at school.

There are no requirements for the children — they don’t have to register or file any paperwork. They just need to show up.

The federal government reimburses the districts and other organizations through the summer lunch program. The drawback is that it only pays for meals served, so it’s possible the district could lose money if too much food is prepared, said Claire Lane, food security program manager for WithinReach. The Seattle-based nonprofit helps organizations and schools promote summer lunch programs in the state.

In Snohomish County, 28 sites serve meals, three fewer than in 2010.

And the number of meals and snacks prepared in the county dropped, too, from 80,750 in 2009 to 76,047 in 2010.

Advocates of the meals hope that trend reverses this year. And early numbers indicate there are more kids requesting lunches.

The Everett School District’s Garfield Elementary School served 85 meals Wednesday, about 30 more than the daily average last summer, said Joanna Peeler, supervisor for food and nutrition services in the district.

The Snohomish School District has served 456 lunches and 184 breakfasts so far at one site, the Maple Avenue Campus. At that rate, the district will serve many more kids than last summer.

“We are certainly exceeding expectations,” district spokeswoman Kristin Foley said.

The numbers are expected to increase next week to at least 200 meals a day when the three-week session of summer school starts at Emerson Elementary School, Foley said.

Back in Monroe, kids started arriving about noon. Within 10 minutes, the tables were filled.

Of the first to be served were Alma Salgado’s 3-year old twins, Adrian and Alejandro. They start preschool in the fall, so Salgado is trying to learn about the district’s programs. It was the first time she brought them for lunch.

“They are helping the people who need it,” Salgado said.

Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez @heraldnet.com.

Where to go

All lunch programs run from Monday to Friday, with some closed on certain days.

They are free to those 18 and younger; some sell meals to people who are older. Some also offer breakfast or snacks.

All programs have started, but they have different end dates.

For other places call 888-4-FOOD-WA or go to www.Parenthelp123.org for more information.

Edmonds School District

Ends Aug. 19

United Presbyterian Church of Seattle

8505 240th St. SW

12:30 to 1 p.m.