‘Seamless Summer’ feeds all Franklin County students
RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County School district will feed breakfast and lunch to all kids aged 18 and under this summer, whether they are affiliated with the system or not.
Child Nutrition Program Director Robynn Bragwell said that the school district takes part in the program, called Seamless Summer, every year.
It is a continuation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture program that provides free breakfasts and lunches to students throughout the academic school year.
“We’re allowed to serve year-round,” Bragwell explained. “It just bridges a gap so they can get nutritious meals while they are staying with grandparents or at home during the summer.
“It’s not just for students — it’s for every child from babies to 18. Anyone from everywhere can get these free meals.”
Bragwell said that breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 9:45 a.m., Monday to Friday, and lunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at every Franklin County Schools campus.
The program began June 2 and continues through July 18.
There will be no service on June 16, July 3 and 4.
Bragwell said besides students there are plenty of walk-ins on every school campus each day.
Pickup is not an option, however, because the USDA mandates if a school has congregate, or in-person, service, there can be no meal pickups.
If youth league sports take place on campuses over the summer, Bragwell said visiting students are always welcome to eat a meal.
In the past, she said even vacation Bible schools have bussed children to the closest Franklin County school for lunch.
“It’s a win-win,” she said. “Kids are hungry, and they need to eat. We can feed them.”
Bragwell noted that because Franklin County Schools are located rurally, it can be difficult for some who would like to utilize the free meals to get children to the school.
Each year, she said she encourages anyone who has a neighbor with kids to please bring them if they have no other way to get to a school to eat.
“How many kids don’t get hot meals or have to be left to their own devices in the summer?” Bragwell asked.
She added that often, children from other communities and states will visit area grandparents during the summer.
Seamless Summer, she said, provides a great option for those children, too.
“If someone can bring them, they can get free meals,” Bragwell said. “They don’t have to be from Franklin County or attend a Franklin County School.”
Russellville City Schools will offer free breakfast and lunch daily for district students participating in board of education-approved activities, according to district MarketingCoordinator Jonathan Willis.
