Children will be able to enjoy healthy lunches all summer long

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Throughout the school year students at the SeDoMoCha School are able to have both lunch and breakfast — the school began a universal free breakfast program this past year which provides morning foods regardless of the K-8 pupils’ free or reduced meal status.

In order to help end student hunger, over the summer months all children 18 and under can enjoy free lunch at the SeDoMoCha School on weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon through Aug. 14. A summer lunch program kick-off event on June 26 invited students and family members to enjoy a meal and activities.

“We try to keep the same menu we had through the year so they are used to it,” RSU 68 Food Service Director Kandi Hartford said during the June 26 festivities in the cafeteria which featured summer staples such as hot dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon and ice cream.

“Yesterday we had 55,” Hartford said about the number of children who stopped by for pizza, served on a Thursday as is done during the school year (the lunch menu is posted at www.sedomocha.org). Hartford later said the summer lunch kickoff had 98 children and 10 adults attend.

Hartford explained how during the kickoff students and families could bring home information from the “healthy handout” tables, containing information on good food choices, recipes and more. Feel Good Piscataquis! Healthy Community Project Coordinator Erin Callaway was also on hand to discuss how to increase access to nutritious foods and other aspects of the Feel Good Piscataquis! initiative. Information was also available on the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Backpack Program, which continues to provide weekend food for children during the summer.

At the summer lunch kickoff children could sit for face painting, coloring, take home some free books and receive animal balloons from the Shrine clowns. “There is free ice cream for everyone,” Hartford said as the Darling’s ice cream truck was parked behind the SeDoMoCha School. The vehicle offers free, pre-packaged ice cream in exchange for voluntary donations to help raise funds for various causes.