all kids 18 and under until Aug. 15, with the exception of July 4. (Photo by Joel Rosenbaum/Vacaville Unified School District)" />all kids 18 and under until Aug. 15, with the exception of July 4. (Photo by Joel Rosenbaum/Vacaville Unified School District)" />
School may be out of session, but the Vacaville Unified School District’s Student Nutrition Department still wants to be sure that all children are able to have satisfying meals that give them the energy they need to have a memorable summer.
Now through Aug. 15, children ages up to 18 can receive free breakfast and lunch from VUSD’s Summer Community Meals program. Children do not have to be enrolled in a district school in order to receive a meal. Breakfast and lunch are served free of charge every weekday, except on the Fourth of July.
all kids 18 and under until Aug. 15. The other two sites are Markham Elementary School and the Trower Neighborhood Center.(Photo by Joel Rosenbaum/Vacaville Unified School District)" width="2000" />
The three sites serving meals were chosen based on area eligibility and factors like income status. Those three locations are the Vacaville Town Square Library, Markham Elementary School and the Trower Neighborhood Center.
A team of bakers, managers and cafeteria assistants prepare the meals in Markham Elementary’s kitchen using recipes created by Culinary Manager, Chef David Edgar, CEC and Assistant Director, Chef Richie Wilim.
“Getting the meals from Markham is the freshest option that we have since it comes hot and fresh out of that kitchen,” said VUSD Student Nutrition Supervisor/Dietitian Lauren Krohn, MS, RDN.
The district is able to run this program through the Seamless Summer Option program by the United States Department of Agriculture, which provides a federal reimbursement rate for every meal.
Library staff prepare to pass out free lunches to kids on Wednesday as part of the Vacaville Unified School District" width="1920" />
“We are very appreciative of this funding because it has allowed us to take on more quality food items,” said Krohn. “For example, we have increased procurement with local farms and local beef vendors. We’ve tried to do more scratch cooking efforts. Typically, items that are higher cost, we have been able to bring in because of the federal reimbursement rates.”
Although the program tends to get a good turnout, Krohn says she would love to feed even more kids. She says that VUSD has approximately 12,500 kids enrolled and she would love to feed them all every day during the summer.
“Increasing food access through meals is what this is all about,” said Krohn. “It has been a success — but I would love to see our numbers double or even triple.”
On Wednesday at the Vacaville Town Square Library, a line had formed out of the front door. Parents patiently waited with their children for a free meal. Options included chicken jambalya made from scratch or cheese pizza.
Krohn says vegetarian options are also available. Wednesday’s vegetarian option was a bean and cheese burrito.
“We try to diversify the menu as much as possible,” said Krohn. “We aim for one scratch item, one comfort item, and one vegetarian option. We also try really hard to make sure that all of our ingredients are as one-step from the ground as possible. Our beans come from Next Generation Foods in Sacramento. Our chicken comes from a local meat company, Cream Co. They are all about regenerative practices and sustainability.”
The pizza even comes from a local vendor, take-and-bake style. Every ingredient used for the pizzas was chosen by the VUSD chefs.
“We as a department are very passionate about making sure we offer as much of a restaurant-like experience as possible,” said Krohn. “We want the community to feel welcomed and we want them to want to eat here and enjoy the experience. Instead of eating at a table, some of the kids choose to picnic on the lawn next to the beautiful creek. I love that idea. It reminds me of walking up to a barbecue pit restaurant, ordering from the window and going to sit with friends. That’s what we are looking for.”
At Markham Elementary School, breakfast is available from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Lunch is available from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.
At the Vacaville Town Square Library and the Trower Neighborhood Center, breakfast is served from 8-9 a.m. Lunch is served from noon to 1 p.m.
