Marion County School district starting summer feeding program

COLUMBIA, MS (WDAM) - The Marion County School District is starting a summer feeding program that will provide 2 nutritious meals a day to school age children. The program is part of a nutrition grant.

Child Nutrition Director with the school district, Patty Stringer said, "All the kids can come and get a meal they might not get at home."

The Marion County School District will offer a free breakfast and lunch this summer to kids K4 through 18 years old.

"Good nutrition makes a difference in a child's life. If they get a good meal we get a good response. We get good test scores," Stringer said.

The meals are open to children from any school district in the county and will run from June the 9^th through July 22^nd, at the East Marion School Cafeteria. The Summer Feeding Rocks Program, is provided by a grant from Save the Children.

Stringer said, "In this grant it said that we had to provide breakfast and lunch, and it just kinda opened an opportunity for us to be able to serve the community."

The East Marion Cafeteria will begin serving breakfast at 8 a.m. and remain open through lunch ending around 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

"This is the first time we have ever done it and we're going to strive to do our best. We want everybody to come out and participate and if you have a child at home bring them and let them get a free breakfast and lunch," Stringer said.