Free daily summer meals at SeDoMoCha School
DOVER-FOXCROFT — All children 18 and under can enjoy free breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday at the SeDoMoCha School, 63 Harrison Ave. Breakfast will be from 8 to 9 a.m. and lunch runs from 11 a.m. to noon, with all meals to be eaten on-site and no application is needed.
Following a recent Friday breakfast, RSU 68 Food Service Director Heather Whitten said the meal program began on June 21 and runs through Friday, Aug. 19.
She said the first day featured a bubble tent from Northern Star Planetarium with scenes of the night sky projected on the ceiling. “The kids loved it and parents went in with the kids,” Whitten said.
Thirty-six children enjoyed the first breakfast on June 21 and 49 lunches were served that Tuesday between attendees and meals prepared for the Piscataquis Regional YMCA. Whitten said she hopes to have similar or even greater numbers moving forward.
“Next week is (the Ayala Soccer Academy across the street) so all the kids will come in and have breakfast and lunch here,” Whitten said. “It’s an awesome way for them to go to camp and have breakfast and lunch for free. It’s easier for parents so they don’t have to worry about packing and they don’t have to worry about having coolers. It’s all here.”
HOT LUNCH SUMMER – Free breakfast and lunch will be served weekdays at the SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft, from 8 to 9 a.m and 11 a.m. to noon, for children 18 and under.
“We always have some of the kids’ favorites, so we will have our chicken nuggets and chicken burgers,” Whitten said with the monthly breakfast and lunch menus posted at https://sedomocha.org/departments/food-service/.
“We have General Tso’s chicken one day, chicken and gravy, pulled pork, turkey noodle soup,” she said. “Of course one of their favorites, macaroni and cheese, and every Thursday is pizza day so they will either have pizza or pizza sticks and it alternates and for the kids that’s always one of their favorites.”
Whitten said for breakfast Tuesdays and Thursdays are cereal days and Wednesdays and Fridays feature breakfast breads, such as banana and lemon, and muffins. Mondays will alternate.
The summer meals in Dover-Foxcroft are being sponsored by RSU 68 Food Services with funding for the local initiative coming from the Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition Program.
Whitten said many schools across the state are taking part. She said other locations can be found by texting “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744 or scanning a QR code at www.hotlunchsummer.com.
She said other events are planned for the next month and a half, including a storywalk on the school nature trail prior to the July 26 lunch.
“We’re hoping to have some more fun activities, maybe have a craft day,” Whitten said.