OTTAWA – ECKAN, the Gardner-Edgerton schools, four other school districts and another social agency will share a federal grant to be used to try alternative summer food programs for low-income children. The Kansas Education Department received a nearly $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand summer food programs. “Hunger doesn’t end when the school bell rings and gap periods, like the summer months, often present nutritional challenges to children from low-income households,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, with support from vital partners in our communities, ensures that healthy foods are available throughout the year to help youth reach their full potential and win the future.” The money will be used to supplement the summer food program by giving up to 70 youngsters food packs for the weekend, said Richard Jackson, ECKAN chief executive officer. The food back-pack program has been popular among area school districts, which was one factor in ECKAN being selected for the demonstration project, he said.
Tuesday, March 22, 3 p.m.
