LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hundreds of Louisville families are breathing a temporary sigh of relief with their kids' breakfasts and lunches covered for at least for another week.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is distributing pre-packaged food in bulk as part of their free summer meals initiative. But after boxes ran out in about 30 minutes last week, the district doubled its supply across its three distribution sites -- from 5,400 meals to just over 12,000.
"Sometimes you struggle with the way times are these days, and any extra help helps," Christopher Patterson, a JCPS parent who picked up a couple boxes on Tuesday, said.
The meals are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in an effort to better reach students on the outskirts of the county, and those most in need.
"This week, we were determined to make it. Just because we got little ones and it helps out a lot," JCPS parent Chanta Gaddie, who has a child going into Kindergarten, said. "I see a lot of kids struggling -- a lot of families struggling. So, it's not just a stress reliever on me, but multiple families."
Comparatively, the boost in inventory appears to have helped.
A JCPS spokesperson reports Evangel World Prayer Center still ran out of meals at around 10:30 a.m., but the PRP fire training center lasted until 11:15 a.m. and Beckley Creek Park at the Egg Lawn had boxes until 12:30 p.m.
"When you live paycheck to paycheck, anything helps," Patterson said.
The initiative is a new option to serve families unable to make it to the more than 50 free summer meal sites each day. Instead, it offers a one-stop shop to grab food in bulk.
Next Tuesday, JCPS is adding an additional 405 boxes. It comes as we enter a difficult time of year for a lot of parents who are trying to make ends meet. Around 70% of JCPS' student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch, and in the summer with school out, access can be a challenge.
These bulk, pre-packaged meals are available at the three locations listed above on Tuesdays through July 26. That's from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until they run out. Again, click here to find a location near you.
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