The Seamless Summer feeding program is set to begin in June.
In addition to easing hunger insecurity during the summer months, the annual program has added more educational opportunities for Gilmer’s youth.
“Before and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, school nutrition workers, education providers, and of course with the help of the USDA, we have been fighting childhood hunger,” said Gilmer Schools nutrition coordinator Daphnie Hice at Monday’s board of education work session.
“In Georgia, 1.3 million people are struggling with hunger and 405,000 of those are children. That’s one in six children that go hungry. Seamless Summer is one way our community helps with combating hunger.”
Seamless Summer served 10,730 lunches and 9,680 breakfasts to the county’s youth in June and July of 2020. Just like in years past, the program is open to those 18 years old and younger.
Meals will be offered Monday through Friday beginning June 7 and running through July 24. The only exception will be the week of June 28 to July 2 in which meals will be halted for the holiday.
Feeding sites this summer include Gilmer High, Tower Road Mobile Home Park, Boys and Girls Club, Gilmer Health Department, First United Methodist Church, Mulberry Apartments (starting June 10) and Lakeside Mobile Home Park.
GHS will offer both breakfast and lunch. The remaining sites will offer breakfast and lunch packaged together.
In past years, the program has also continued to educate students over the summer months. Previously, free books were offered once per week. Last year during the pandemic, students received enrichment packets.
Beginning next month in conjunction with the feeding program, the Summer Academy will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Tower Road, Boys and Girls Club, health department, Methodist Church and Mulberry Apartments locations. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities will be offered by volunteering teachers.
“We’re really excited to be working with preschoolers through eighth grade,” said chief academic officer Lottie Mitchell. “We have about 20 teachers, our academic coaches and our pre-K director Katrina Kingsley have agreed to work Tuesdays and Thursdays for about two hours each day. That way they’ll end the fun activities with lunch.”
A bus has been converted into the “Bobcat Cafe,” which serves as a mobile feeding site that also offerers educational opportunities and will be on location at Lakeside.
“We were so excited to partner with the nutrition department and transportation department to repurpose one of our old buses,” Mitchell said. “During the summer, it will be our Bobcat Cafe on the prowl. It will serve as a mobile learning lab for our preschoolers in the community.”
Funds from the Literacy for Learning, Living, and Leading in Georgia Grant were used to outfit the bus with preschool furniture and literary resources.
Seamless Summer and Summer Academy feeding times
﹣ Gilmer High
Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
﹣ Tower Road Mobile Homes
Lunch noon to 12:30 p.m.
Summer Academy 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays
﹣ Boys and Girls Club
Lunch noon to 1 p.m.
Summer Academy 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays
﹣ Health Department
Lunch 11:50 to 12:30 p.m.
Summer Academy 9:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
﹣ Ellijay First United Methodist Church
Lunch 11 a.m. to noon
Summer Academy 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
﹣ Mulberry Apartments
Lunch 11 a.m. to noon
Summer Academy 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
﹣ Lakeside Mobile Homes
Lunch 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 a.m.