Ironwood schools offer free summer lunches

IRONWOOD — As the school year ends, the Ironwood Area School District is preparing for another summer of free lunches.

This year — as the school won’t be offering a summer school — the lunches will be offered at the city’s Depot Park, according to the district’s food services director, Mary Hampston.

“You know you start paying for your kids lunches in the summer — full price all summer long to be home — it gets expensive. People don’t think how cheap lunches are at school, from $2.75,” said Hampston. “You have a kid eat at home, it’s going to be $5 a kid at least. You’re not going to McDonald’s for a McDonald’s meal, you can get a dollar burger, but is that going to fill them up? No. Are they going to get the full salad bar like we have here? No.”

The lunches will be offered from 11 a.m. to noon on Mondays through Thursdays beginning on June 8, according to Hampston.

As a federally funded program that the school offers each summer, there is no income guidelines for the lunches, Hampston said, and the program is offered to all students in the area. Hampston said there is no pre-registration to participate and lunch will be provided to all kids who show up.

In past years, Hampston said she has had as many as 130 kids some weeks.

Hampston plans on keeping a similar menu to previous years. Tentatively, Monday will feature hamburgers and hotdogs, Tuesday will offer chicken nuggets, Wednesdays are submarine sandwiches and Thursdays will feature pizza. There will also be fruits and vegetables and other options offered to students, Hampston said.

“It’s kind of a good thing that we do that the same every week, because if a kid likes that then they know what day to come, or not to come, it’s not some random food they don’t like when they show up,” Hampston said.

The program is offered to all students 18 years old and younger, as well as those up to the age of 26 who are enrolled in a recognized educational program for the mentally or physically disabled, Hampston said.

In addition to the lunches, Hampston is working on providing a variety of activities by partnering with various community organizations including the Ironwood Carnegie Library and Community Mental Health. Hampston is continuing to look for other groups interested in participating in the lunches.

“Anybody who wants to do a craft or project with children can contact me,” Hampston said.

Students will also get to use the volleyball courts next to the park, and Hampston hopes to use the chess boards in the park as well.

Hampston said that there will also be a drawing for a small prize at the end of each week and the give-away of a Mt. Zion ski pass at the end of the summer.

Those interested in helping the program or who have questions can contact Hampston at 906-932-0541.