Acorn Afterschool Program Now Serving Meals

BY MELANIE BUCK –

The Acorn Afterschool Program has received a new facet. They are now serving meals to students immediately after school lets out for the day. Rose Bates, head of Acorn’s food service program applied for a DHS At-Risk Afterschool Supper Grant and was approved for the remainder of the school year. Bates said the meals are prepared on campus and are not only a way to help combat food insecurity, but also relieves parents of stress.

Tina Kesterson, a teacher at Acorn school, explained that elementary students begin eating lunch at 10:30 a.m. for K-2^nd grade and 3^rd-5^th grades eat at 11 a.m. The new program gives the students a chance to eat earlier in the evenings before launching into homework help, tutoring, and enrichment activities. Michelle McGee and Kim Posey are facilitators of the Afterschool Program and McGee said, “The students are really hungry after school so we feed them first in case some need to go early.”

Bates also said the meals are for all students, not just the ones who participate in the Afterschool Program. “The program is not limited to just the Afterschool students, we even feed the basketball teams before games. The program is not so much about food insecurity as it is nutritional backing.” The program began in late November, as soon as approval was granted for the reimbursement grant. “When Michelle McGee told me about the program, I started making phone calls and after being approved, we started the program immediately. We will also serve lunch two weeks during the summer,” Bates explained.

There are an average of 105 students fed each day after school and their menus aren’t quite as limited as breakfast and lunch, due to funding sources. McGee said, “Rose fixed biscuits and gravy for the kids one afternoon and they all loved it.” Students are also given a snack at 4:30 p.m. each Monday through Thursday. The Afterschool Program is not held on Fridays.

To learn more about Acorn’s Afterschool Program, contact Acorn school at 479-394-5544.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

See author's posts