Summer meal program grows along with the need

Published 6:54 pm Tuesday, June 4, 2019

: Dozens of area children enjoy lunch in 2019 at Beechwood Elementary School, part of the Vicksburg Warren School District’s annual summer meal program. (Courtland Wells | The Vicksburg Post)

Each year the Vicksburg Warren School District’s summer meal program has grown.

Now in its fifth year, due to the increase in the number of children who are taking advantage of the program, free meals will be offered during the months of June and July.

“In the past we have only offered meals during the month of June,” Stephanie Williams, VWSD central office manager said.

The summer program kicked off Monday, and will run Mondays through Fridays in June and July at Beechwood Elementary School, located at 999 Highway 27.

Free meals will also be offered Mondays through Fridays in June at Warren Central Junior High School, located at 1630 Baldwin Ferry Road.

Any child 18 and younger will be able to come in and eat breakfast and lunch at no cost to them or the parent, Williams said.

Breakfasts will be served from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and lunches will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Meals are available to parents at a cost of $3, Williams said.

The summer meal program, which is a federally funded program made possible through a grant administered by the Mississippi Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is designed to reach out to the community and provide healthy, well-balance meals.

In addition to breakfasts and lunches being offered at the schools, Williams said, meals are also distributed to camps, daycares and athletes who are training at the schools.

However, in order for a camp or daycare to receive meals, Williams said, the director of the facility must go through a training program in order to qualify.

“Whoever the facility coordinator is they have to come in and go through a summer feeding training just like the schools have to go through,” Williams said. “They have to know what they can and can’t do and the correct procedures,” she said, adding closing times have to be enforced and all meals must be eaten on site.

All meals are prepared at the schools, Williams said, by VWSD cafeteria workers who have opted to work during the summer months.

Meals will not be served July 4 and 5.

For more information on the Summer Meal Program, call 601-631-2826 or visit the Vicksburg Warren School District’s Facebook page.

Monthly menus are also posted on the district’s Facebook page.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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