Summer meal program launched at school

BELMAR — Belmar Elementary School (BES) has announced the launch of a new summer food program to ensure local children have access to nutritious meals while school is out of session.

According to BES Superintendent Jimmy Alvarez, the program is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Mike Bardsley, our business administrator, along with Bill Chalmers and the Culinary Classic team, were integral in making this possible,” he said.

Free breakfast and lunch will be available to all children under the age of 18 from July 8 through Aug. 8, running every Monday through Thursday. Breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. and lunch will be served at 11 a.m.

Two pizza parties will also be offered this summer at the school, on July 17 and July 31 at 11 a.m.

Access to the school building is through the cafeteria door just to the left of the main entrance. “Just knock and someone will attend to them,” Alvarez said.

“We want to make sure all our students have access to nutritious food during the summer months,” Alvarez told The Coast Star. “The pizza parties do that and give the kids a chance to meet up and hopefully make plans with each other. The social aspect of sharing meals with others is something we all count on for a sense of balance and connection, it is more important now than ever for our kids.”

“We encourage families to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to ensure our children have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer,” Councilwoman Jodi Kinney said at the July 9 council meeting.

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