Beech Tree News Network

School may not be in session right now in Butler County but that hasn’t prevented the local district from feeding school-age children throughout the community.  In fact, over 9,000 total meals - breakfast and lunch - were served last week as the Butler County School Nutrition Program initiated a service to make meals available at local schools and even for delivery by school employees from the Butler County Family Resource or Youth Services Center.  

All locations operate as drive-thru or drop off and all meals are provided at no charge to students.   

Kaitlin Harrison, Director of Special Programs for the Butler County School District, reported steady increases in meals served as the week progressed.

3/16-Monday 1,028

3/17-Tuesday 1,680

3/18-Wednesday  2,037

3/19-Thursday  2,159

3/20-Friday  2,313

Total  9,217

“This week has far exceeded my expectations of reaching kids across our community with nutritious meals.  We were given less than 24 hours to develop a plan then only a weekend to execute the plan,” said Harrison.  “I am proud of my employees’ commitment to serving our kids, no matter the circumstance, and of our bus drivers/monitors, volunteers, paraeducators, school leaders, parents, grandparents and community leaders who’ve stepped up to help this happen.”

The food is prepared at all four school kitchens by the Butler County School Nutrition Staff.  Deliveries are being made by the Butler County bus drivers,bus monitors, school aides, Family Resource staff and several community volunteers.

According to Harrison, a portion of the food provided is from local/area vendors, including Cardwell Family Farms, Struttin’ Rooster Farms, Heritage Farms (Sugar Grove) Berryliciouss Orchard and Jackson's Orchard.