Like last summer, USD 489 will again have its summer meals program, in which students can get meals in the east parking lot at Hays High from June 1 through July 29.

This drive-through meal program will be available on Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kids under 18 years of age and under can eat free breakfast and lunch.

USD 489 Nutrition Services will serve meals that consist of entrée, vegetables, fruit, milk and a breakfast meal for the following day. Thursday and Friday meals will be served together on Thursday.

There is no income requirement, and kids do not need to be enrolled in USD 489 in order to eat. A child does have to be present in the vehicle to receive food.

Last year, the district had received a $6,000 grant from Feeding Kansas Kids to help offset the extra cost of providing meals via drive-through. Due to COVID-19, the start of the school was moved back to Aug. 26, and the district extended its summer lunch program to Aug. 20.

Throughout the last summer, the district averaged approximately 1,200 to 1,500 meals per day between its three distribution locations — Hays High School, Hays Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School.

“I’ve babysat in the past before, and it’s always nice to have free meals at the high school for any kid under 18,” Senior Abby Werth said. “It has definitely made my job easier, and I’m excited to see how it goes this summer.”

The menus can be found at http://usd489nutritionservices.com, and if there are answer questions, parents or students can contact Jessica Younker, Director of Nutrition Services at jyounger@usd489.com.

21avredenburg@usd489.com