North Adams Schools Offer Healthy Lunch for City Kids
 Photos by Melanie Rancourt
 Cafeteria workers serve up nutritious lunches for the school system's summer feeding program. |
"It's really been wonderful," said said Shirley Lescarbeau, food service director for the North Adams Public Schools, of the turnout this year for the free program.
Two years ago, the federally-sponsored initiative was lagging in participants, barely hitting 200 children total. Not so this year; Lescarbeau said on Wednesday that Brayton Elementary School alone served 232 lunches today.
Last year, the feeding program served up to 350 meals a day; about 4,000 meals over the entire six weeks. Brayton Elementary School is the largest site because it is the only school that serves both breakfast and lunch and also services the summer science camp, the Castles special education program and the Northern Berkshire YMCA. The other schools, Sullivan and Greylock, cater to a much smaller crowd.
The numbers drop off as the camps and other activities that use the program end, said Lescarbeau. "We have the science camp program that also has breakfast, the day care at the YMCA and, of course, the neighborhood kids."
The lunches are free to anyone age 18 and under weekdays at Greylock, Brayton and Sullivan schools from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Breakfast is served at Brayton Elementary School only from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. Adults can also eat with their children for a nominal fee.
"The school lunch and breakfast program is a mandated food program for nutrition," said Lescarbeau in an interview last month. "All meals consist of milk, protein, grain, fruits and vegetables. There will never be any chips, soda, or ice cream served."
The North Adams Public Schools applied through the state for the funding necessary to run the program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture program runs for six weeks, from June 28 through the first week of August. It's now in its third week.
Much preparation goes into making sure that the cafeterias serving meals over the summer are qualified to do so.
"I completed a pre-operational review at all three sites prior to the end of the school year," Lescarbeau said in an earlier interview. "This week, the first week of the program, I am required to complete a first week review. Later, I will conduct a four-week review making sure that everything is running smoothly."
Items that are checked during each review include: the nutritional value of the meals being served, refrigeration temperatures, numbers of meals being served and labor hours for times in which the program is run.
Keeping detailed records is very important, since the state will also do its own review to make sure the schools are adhering to all rules and regulations.
 Connie Tatro brings the children in her day care to Greylock Elementary for lunch and socializing on the playground. |
"Coming out for lunch is a good way for the children to interact with members of the community," said Tatro. "The ladies working in the cafeteria are always so kind and very knowledgeable of healthy foods that are good for children."
After lunch, Tatro and the children play on the playground, walk back to the house and settle down for a well-deserved afternoon nap.
Similar to the school meals that are served throughout the school year, the first week of the program offered fruit, juice, cereal, wheat toast and milk for breakfast at Brayton Elementary School.
Lunches are the same each day at all three sites with a choice of regular or chocolate milk. For example, last week offered entrees such as toasted cheese sandwiches and chicken patties, and fruits and vegetables.
For more information on the USDA Summer Feeding Program at any one of the elementary schools, contact Lescarbeau at 413-662-3205.
