Schools in El Dorado County are concluding their student meal programs for the year, but the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is collaborating with several organizations to help ensure some students in Pollock Pines continue to have access to meals through early August.
The Summer Food Program will run June 11 through August 7 for Pollock Pines students who receive free or reduced-price school lunch during the regular school year. Over the summer, up to 140 students are expected to receive breakfast and lunch through the program.
The collaborative effort will be supported by the federal Child Nutrition Program, and the kitchen staff at SCOE's Sly Park Environmental Education Center will be assembling the prepackaged meals. Members of the Pollock Pines Boys & Girls Club and the Pollock Pines Rotary Club will then distribute the grab-and-go meals to families at Pinewood Elementary (in Pollock Pines) Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
“School nutrition programs are more important than ever during this difficult time,” said David W. Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools. “We are extremely proud of our Sly Park kitchen staff for stepping in to serve the El Dorado County community.”
“The Pollock Pines Elementary School District is excited to be partnering with SCOE to provide a summer meal program. This partnership will allow families to continue to receive meals over the summer during these difficult times. The District is appreciative of SCOE for providing this program,” said Pat Atkins, Pollock Pines Elementary School District Superintendent.
SCOE operates the Sly Park Environmental Education Center, an outdoor school campus that brings almost 8,000 fifth- and sixth-grade students into the Eldorado National Forest each year to learn about the outdoors and science in a residential school setting.
The summer meal program is a collaboration involving SCOE, the California State Employees Association, the Pollock Pines Elementary School District, the Pollock Pines Boys & Girls Club, and the Pollock Pines Rotary Club. For questions about the summer program, email Sly Park Director Brett Nelson.