PARMA, Ohio — Food Service Supervisor with Parma City Schools Bob Gorman said for some students, the end of the school year is a cause of concern.
“Food insecurity isn’t necessarily just missing a meal,” he said. “It’s maybe not having a full meal or just like a partial meal. It could just be a ramen noodle again. It could be not having a fruit or vegetable with your meal again.”
Feeding America reported summer is the hungriest time of the year for 22 million children who usually eat at school.
Gorman said this is why the district provides free meals to students over the break.
“This year, we’re going to be feeding at three schools: Thoreau Park, John Muir and Ridge-Brook.”
He said there have been challenges, like getting food and staffing shortages.
“Keep my fingers crossed I could still get food and keeping my fingers crossed I could still get staff,” he said.
However, he’s still optimistic he will be able to turn to local vendors to feed students this summer.
“We still believe in local foods,” he said. “We still believe in serving fresh local food.”
He said the 2022 summer feeding program begins June 13 and students can expect a variety of meals.
“We’re going to have your typical school lunch menus, which for Parma will include fruit and veggie bar and then hot meals,” he said. “We’ll have an alternate cold meal that will be available to the kids.”
He said dates and times will be posted on the school’s website.
