The ranks of hungry children in Utah are growing, if the number of those participating in a summer food service program is an indicator.
Sites offering free breakfast, lunch and in some instances supper have increased by more than a third. About 100 schools, community centers and summer camps for low-income children are participating this year, with approximately 7,000 children up to age 18 being served."The demand definitely has increased. I'm sure it has to do with the economy," said Gale Ladwig, food services director in Salt Lake School District. "My phone has been ringing off the hook with people wanting to know where to send their kids."
People also are more aware of the free-food program, said Ladwig. Welfare advocate groups and agencies and the school districts have publicized the summer program, which is centrally administered by the State Office of Education's Child Nutrition Section. The costs are borne almost entirely by the federal Department of Agriculture, with school districts chipping in to meet local needs if necessary.
Participants are not screened for need and only have to show up at a distribution site to receive free meals. They must eat the full meal at the site, however.
Wednesday in Northwest Community Park, about 75 sack lunches - each containing a hero sandwich, orange and cookie - and accompanying milk were quickly gone. Children parked themselves at picnic tables or on the lawn to take advantage of the shade while they ate.
"I usually get rid of all I bring," said Kevin Hansen, a Salt Lake District employee. Patrick Huston, 14, has a summer job helping distribute the food and saw that youngsters were getting their milk from a picnic cooler.
Before he hit the park, Hansen made stops at the Mexican Civic Center, a Head Start program and a school.
To qualify, sites must be in communities that have at least 50 percent of the children on free or reduced lunch, said Ladwig. But children who receive meals don't have to prove that they qualify under that criterion.
"I haven't seen many people that appear to be taking advantage of the free food if they could pay," she said. "Most of these kids are hungry. For some of them, these will be the only meals they get during the day."