LINTON, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Linton Stockton Dining Services continues feeding children throughout the summer months.
Backpacks may be packed away and classrooms quiet, but for the dining services team at Linton-Stockton School Corporation, the mission continues, one lunch sack at a time. Making sure no child goes hungry, just because school is out for summer.
The summer meal program, funded by the USDA and overseen by the Indiana Department of Education, is providing breakfast, lunch, and a sense of relief.
“It means everything for us,” parent Donna Tingley said. “It provides lunch for my kids on weekdays, and it provides their breakfast. Even when I take them to daycare, it gives them a meal to take to with them. That’s a free meal for us,” she added.
Officials say it’s more than just quantity; it’s quality.
“We get all kinds of fruits and vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, apples, oranges, and bananas,” Tingley said. “And then we get things like chicken quesadillas, pizza, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, and then we get a hot meal for them as well.”
Director of Dining Services MaKenzie Dunn says the effort goes far beyond the food.
“There’s obviously a need in our community,” Dunn said. “But it’s also just a benefit to everyone,” she added. “Groceries are expensive, and it helps everyone out just to have a well-balanced meal for their kids. Produce is especially crazy high. So they’re able to get the portions that they need to go with each of their breakfast and lunch meals.”
Dunn and her team, along with volunteers, borrowed staff, and even some football players, prepare and distribute meals each week.
“These meals are free to all children age 18 and under. It doesn’t matter the income or anything like that,” she said. “They don’t have to be a student of Linton-Stockton. They can be from anywhere, and they also don’t have to be of school age. Just as long as they’re able to eat table food up until 18.”
Without this program, Dunn said some children might go without a nutritious meal.
“Kids aren’t getting all of the nutrients that they need in some households. This helps overall give them what they need for each meal,” she said.
And the gratitude on pick-up day showed. By just spending a few moments in the parking lot, you could hear the thank-yous coming from the vehicles.
Feeding children from any district and any background, this summer program is about more than filling plates—it’s about filling a need.
Meals can be picked up behind Linton High School on Mondays and Thursdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dunn said the last distribution date is scheduled for July 31.
The meals are free for children aged 18 and under. For more information, click here.
