–The Algona Community School District handed out over 14,000 meals while participating in the USDA’s Summer Food Service program this year. Jill Nelson serves as the Food Service Program Director for the district, and she tells KLGA News that they were able to offer these free meals for an extended period of time this summer.
Children aged 18 and under were able to pick up these free meals three days a week throughout June and twice a week in July.
Nelson says the district has to submit an application each year to participate in the summer food service program.
School districts are typically informed some time in May whether or not they will be a part of the program for that summer. The most recent data from the federal government shows nearly 3 million children were served in 2024 at over 36,000 sites nationwide by the summer food service program.
