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HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — For parents like Retha Lemburg, finding a way to feed her children during the summer on a tight budget can be a challenge.
During the school year, Lemburg knows that her older children get lunch every day through the school's free and reduced lunch program.
When they're home for summer, though, there's a question of where food will come from.
That's why summer lunch programs provided through Hastings Public Schools and YWCA Adams County are vital.
"Honestly, because I don't have any food at home" was the response Lemburg gave when asked why she brought her kids to Carter Park for a free this week.
The Hastings Tribune (http://bit.ly/1XYmEsA ) reports that this summer, the YWCA is testing a mobile lunch program at Carter and Harms parks as a way to catch families who might not be able to drive to the Hastings Middle School for lunch.
"This is just an extension of the on-site summer food program," Rebecca Woolsey said. "We really wanted to come to parts of the community where there are high needs. We want to be accessible to those high-needs areas."
Woolsey is assistant director with The Zone, an after-school program through the YWCA that provides snacks, meals and a place to hang out for youth in the community during the school year.
During the summer months, the YWCA provides on-site hot meals at the Hastings Community Center, 2015 W. Third St., only during the week right after school lets out and just prior to the start of the next year. Hastings Public Schools operates the hot meal program during the months of June and July where they serve all children ages 18 and under.
Meals are served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hastings Middle School, 201 N. Marian Road, through July 29. Meals also are available at Longfellow Elementary, 828 N. Hastings Ave., from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Woolsey said the mobile summer lunch program was established as a way to help cater to those families who might not be able to get to the middle school.
"We wanted to have a spot that was easily accessible for families," she said. "We're going to try it for a month and see how it goes."
The program started June 6 with a dozen kids coming to the Carter Park site and 17 consuming the free meal the following day.
By Wednesday, word had started to spread and the number was up to 20, including some repeat users along with new families.
"Considering it's something that is brand new, I would say it's doing OK," Woolsey said. "We just need to get the word out."
Wednesday was a second visit for Nancy Krueger, who came out with her 11-year-old grandson.
"It's nice for the budget because we don't have any money coming in from mom and dad for him," said Krueger, who cares for her grandson on a full-time basis. "He's been with me for about three years."
Her grandson opted for the ham wrap meal, which consisted of smoked ham and lettuce in an herb wrap with string cheese, a banana and a carton of milk. The other meal option Wednesday was peanut butter on flat bread with cut celery, a cup of mandarin oranges and milk.
Lemburg said she was thankful for the meals and said the sandwiches cater perfectly to her children who prefer them over some hot meals.
On Wednesday, she brought her three sons, a daughter and a nephew who enjoyed their meals while playing on the jungle gym. The youngest boy sat in his car seat chomping on a banana.
Lemburg said she appreciates programs like this after using a similar one when the family lived in Scottsbluff.
Woolsey said the mobile program is just a pilot program and is only scheduled to run through July 1.
As the program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the kids must take each of the items in the meal and eat them on-site.
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Information from: Hastings Tribune, http://www.hastingstribune.com
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