24-05-2025
Daviess County Public Schools Summer feeding program kicks off
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WRHT) — School may be out for the summer, but Daviess County Public Schools are still showing up for kids and families with meals they can count on. DCPS officials are hoping to continue the fight against food insecurity through their summer feeding program. It offers free meals to kids 18-years-old and under.
Officials say the effort is more than just convenience, it's a lifeline.
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The district's kick-off event aims to get families excited and acclimated to one new important change.
State regulations now require meals be eaten on site to make sure one meal is served per child.
'They're all congregated sites. You at least have to start eating your meal inside. Like, we'll go on probably before you finish, and you can take it or go. We have to stay on site for the duration,' says Connie Beth Fillman, the food service director for DCPS.
Statistics show more than 3,000 children face food insecurity and that number spikes when school cafeterias close.
Daviess County High School's assistant principal has worked in the district for 22 years and says one of its biggest benefits is nutrition.
'…the availability of whole grains, nutritional breakfast [and] lunch that these kids can get their hands on… something that's going to be nutritious. It's going to fill them up, and it's going to give them energy to want to get out and and do more,' says Paul Howard, the assistant principal of DCHS and a parent of two DCHS students.
From now until August 1, the district's food service vans will make pit stops at over a dozen locations like spray parks and neighborhoods. With the exception of holidays like Fourth of July and Memorial Day, three vans will make their way across the county.
75,0000 meals were served last summer and 1,000 kids were served each day.'Hamburgers. And we got apples and chips. Carrots and their milk. And then we're also sampling our fruit slushies. We serve these at high school and have a cup of fruit. So we're letting the kids see those, too.'
One rising eighth grader attended the event with his family and says the program makes his battle with celiac disease easier during and outside of school hours.
'I think it definitely helps instead of having to pack my lunch every day. I really like how they made me a gluten free sub sandwich,' says Jack Tichenor, a rising 8th grader at Daviess County Middle School.
The school program's second annual kick off at the county high school's football field aims to give families a taste of the new protocol with games and vendors offering free items occupying their time while they eat.
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