Thompson School District Ends Summer Lunch Program Early
The Thompson School District has decided to end its summer lunch program earlier than planned, citing a significant drop in student participation. This decline has placed financial pressure on the district, making it difficult to sustain the free meal service for students throughout the entire summer.
In a Facebook post, the district mentioned that the decision was influenced by the hot weather, but the primary factor behind the early closure is the low number of students taking advantage of the program. The site at Fickel Park in Berthoud concluded its services on Thursday, and the Loveland location at Winona Elementary School will serve its last meals on July 25. Originally, both locations were scheduled to remain open until July 31.
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Lisa Kendall, the Nutrition Services Director for the Thompson School District, explained the reasoning behind the early closure in an email. She noted that the district’s funding largely depends on reimbursements for each meal served. When participation drops, it becomes challenging to maintain the program financially.
“Due to the low participation, we are unable to sustain the program,” Kendall said. “Our main source of funding comes from meal reimbursements, so when fewer students come, it affects our ability to continue offering the service.”
To ensure that students still have access to meals, KidsPak, a local nonprofit organization based in Loveland, will continue providing food bags at both locations through July 24. In addition to the meals, KidsPak will also assist families in finding other sources of food aid.
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Kendall reported that participation in this year’s summer lunch program has dropped by approximately 65% compared to the same time last year. However, specific numbers regarding how many students participated were not immediately available.
She also pointed out that this trend is not unique to the Thompson School District. Many school districts across the country have experienced similar declines in summer program participation. Some have even chosen to eliminate their summer meal programs altogether due to financial constraints.
This situation highlights the challenges that schools face in maintaining essential services during the summer months. With fewer students participating, the cost per meal increases, making it harder for districts to justify continuing the program without additional support.
Despite the early closure, the district and local organizations are working together to ensure that no child goes hungry. The collaboration between the Thompson School District and KidsPak demonstrates a commitment to addressing food insecurity among students, even as traditional programs are scaled back.
As the summer progresses, it remains to be seen how other districts will respond to these challenges. For now, the focus is on supporting those who need it most and finding alternative solutions to keep children fed during the school break.
