Summer Meals for Youth

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Do you have children and want to take advantage of free meals over the summer? Do you have a student who relies on school meals to stay fed? Even though school is out of session for the summer, free grab and go meals will be available at four school locations across the island, for all Molokai youth aged 1 to 18, regardless of school enrollment status.

The meals will be provided by Kualapu’u School from June 7 to July 16. Meal pick up sites and times are Kilohana Elementary School between 11:45 and 12 noon, Kaunakakai Elementary School between 11:15 and 11:45 a.m., Kualapu’u School between 11:30 and 12 noon, and Maunaloa Elementary School between 12 and 12:30 p.m. Those times are updated and correct as of Friday, June 4.

A packaged breakfast and warm lunch will be distributed together at lunchtime only. Pick-ups will include one lunch for that day and one breakfast for the following day, per child.

For applications, Kualapu’u School advises contacting your school’s office, or for more information, fall (808)567-6900 or email Fiona Benjamin at fiona_benjamin@kualapuu.k12.hi.us.

The meals are available through the Hawaii Dept. of Education Grab-and-Go meal program.

“We know that this service will help our students achieve educational opportunities by providing reliable and nutritious meals throughout the summer months,” said Randall Tanaka, assistant superintendent, Office of Facilities and Operations. “We encourage all children in the community to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Parents or guardians who choose to pick up meals without their child(ren) present must provide one of the following verification documents daily: an official letter or email from school listing child(ren) enrolled; a recent student report card(s); attendance record(s) from parent portals of school websites; birth certificate(s) of child(ren); student ID card(s); driver’s permit/license(s) for high school students; or state-issued ID of the student.

For special diet accommodations, please send an email to specialdiets@k12.hi.us.