Adriyel, 13, and her siblings Michael, 8, and Maya, 5, pick up takeaway meals from the ECISD food truck at Heritage Middle School.Children lined up excitedly outside Heritage Middle School on a recent Wednesday afternoon as two cheery child nutrition workers heaped mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken nuggets, fruit and bread into takeaway containers, handing them out the window of a food truck emblazoned with pictures of sandwiches, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Similar scenes are playing out at rural schools across the state this summer as part of the state’s non-congregate summer food program, which allows students to take free meals to go instead of having to eat at tables set up on site. Brenda Bazán / San Antonio Report Meredith Rokas, director of purchasing and child nutrition for the district, said it has been meaningful for families that might not otherwise have the opportunity to access the food.
It was also a good opportunity for her children, who are homeschooled, to get resources like free books, she added. Rokas said the school plans to expand its services in the coming months after winning a grant from the nonprofit No Kid Hungry Texas, which provides grants to organizations working to reduce childhood hunger.
The sealed food will be distributed during a new after-school snack program, where thousands of kids will be served in just a matter of minutes, according to Rokas.