CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC - The Marshalltown Community School District will begin the summer meal program, consisting of breakfasts, lunches and snacks, on Tuesday. The Marshalltown Public Library will have the lunches tomorrow, and then additional locations will offer meals beginning Wednesday.

The Marshalltown Community School District (MCSD) is gearing up to feed 500 children each day with the summer meal program.

The meals begin tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the Marshalltown Public Library with lunches. Then on Wednesday, children can get meals at eight additional locations – Woodbury, Rogers and Anson elementary buildings, the high school, Miller Middle School, Lenihan Intermediate, the YMCA Cultural Center and the Veterans Coliseum.

MCSD Director of Food Service Lynn Large said the meals are federally funded through the United States Department of Agriculture. Most of them must be eaten on-site.

“The premise of the program is that it is a congregate meal program,” she said, meaning children eat together and socialize on site.

On Friday, parents can take meals to-go for the weekend. Those will be available at Miller from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The first weekend of to-go breakfasts will be mini chocolate donuts, pear cups and milk; and cherry muffin, apple juice and milk. The to-go lunches will consist of mac and cheese, green beans, craisins and milk; and a chicken wrap, Cool Ranch Doritos, celery, fruit and chocolate milk.

The district has a particular pattern to follow for meals which includes meats, whole grains, fresh produce and low-fat milk and all of the meals will follow that pattern.

Some of the foods will be familiar to Marshalltown youth. On Wednesday, the breakfast will consist of a dipped donut ring, strawberry GoGurt, fruit, milk and chocolate milk; and the lunch will include a beef walking taco, fruit, milk and chocolate milk. Large said menus are available online at https://marshalltown.nutrislice.com.

While youth will encounter some lunchroom favorites this summer, they will also get the chance to experience new dishes. MCSD food service staff use the summer as an opportunity to flex their creative muscles.

“Summer is a great time for us to try new foods and recipes,” Large said. “This summer we are trying homemade potato salad.”

As kids enjoy their school food favorites and maybe discover new ones, Large said there are some rules people should be aware of. First, the meals are only for children aged 18 and younger, and they do not have to be MCSD students. She added each child can get two meal or snack offerings per day.

SUMMER MEAL INFORMATION

The following locations will offer summer meals in Marshalltown Monday through Friday. No meals will be served at any location on July 4:

Marshalltown High School cafeteria, 1602 S. Second Ave.; Tuesday through June 25; breakfast from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.;

Rogers Elementary gymnasium, 406 Summit St.; Tuesday through July 3; breakfast from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; enter the building through the playground door;

Woodbury Elementary gymnasium, 8 N. Seventh Ave.; Tuesday through July 3; breakfast from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; enter through the side door at the front of the building;

Anson Elementary gymnasium, 1016 S. Third Ave.; Tuesday through July 3; breakfast from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; enter the building through the east door near the playground;

Veterans Coliseum, 20 W. State St.; Tuesday through Aug. 8; lunch 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and afternoon snack 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; snacks are only available on Mondays and Fridays;

YMCA Cultural Center, 108 Washington St.; Tuesday through Aug. 8; lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and afternoon snack 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; enter through the main doors and snacks can be requested at the front desk;

Lenihan Intermediate Elementary cafeteria, 212 W. Ingledue St.; lunch Tuesday through Aug. 8, 11:15 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.; breakfast from July 7 through Aug. 1, from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.; enter and exit through the main entrance;

Fisher Elementary gymnasium, 2001 S. Fourth St.; July 7 through July 31; breakfast from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; enter through Door #5;

Hoglan Elementary cafeteria, 2306 S. Third Ave.; July 7 through July 31; breakfast from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; enter through the door closest to the cafeteria;

Miller Middle School cafeteria, 125 S. 11th St.; lunch Tuesday through Aug. 8, 11 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.; breakfast from June 16 through July 2, from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; to-go meals on Fridays, except for July 4, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; enter through the main entrance;

Marshalltown Public Library, 105 W. Boone St.; lunches Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Tuesday through Aug. 6; 11 a.m. to noon; sack lunches served after storytime.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.