Holley says free summer meals was a success at school district
More than 3,000 meals served to students over summer
Provided photo – These boys enjoy a meal at Holley Central School over the summer.
Press Release
Holley Central School
HOLLEY – Holley children received free breakfast and lunch at the Holley Middle/High School Dining Hall this summer due to a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The school district provided meals to children under the age of 18 living within the Holley Central School District, regardless of income level.
“We are pleased to offer the community at large the opportunity to take part in this program,” said Holley Superintendent Robert D’Angelo.
Food Service Director Vickie Scroger said that the district served on average 135 people per day, with the busiest days being Tuesdays through Thursdays when most of the fitness classes were also offered.
Scroger also said that they fed more students and families at lunch time than they did at breakfast. From the end of June through the end of August, students consumed 1,140 breakfasts and 2,249 lunches, while the adults ate 41 breakfasts and 400 lunches.
Students who participated in morning and/or afternoon exercise classes such as FIT4U! and BLAST programs appreciated the chance to refuel their bodies before and after their exercise sessions.
Brothers Steven and John Mounts participated in all of the FIT4U! sessions and said they liked the convenience of the breakfast breaks, which were a grab-and-go breakfast option. They returned to the Dining Hall each day for lunch and enjoyed the wraps as their favorite mid-day meal. “This is a better lunch than we’d make for ourselves,” Steven said.
Students cited Frudels, cereal, pancakes and bagels as their top choices for breakfast. Pizza, wraps, tacos, subs, fruit and vegetables were their favorites for lunch. The kids also enjoyed watching TV at breakfast and a movie at lunch time.
“My son eats more lunch here than he does at home,” said Jaime Lyndaker, who brought her son to the Dining Hall for lunch after his summer recreation program.
“The kids like eating together,” said Ruth Press, who was at lunch with her grandson.
Both Lyndaker and Press said they thought that it was a valuable program for the district to offer and appreciated the chance to save money on groceries.
Adults, including Holley staff members, were also able to purchase breakfast and lunch from the district during this program. Breakfast was $2.25 and lunch was $4.
