Lunch gives students time to sit down with friends and enjoy a meal before returning to class. Across the School District of Lancaster, approximately 6,800 lunches are served each day, making the cafeteria an essential part of how our schools support students.
National School Lunch Week highlights the role those meals play in students’ well-being and their readiness to learn. At SDoL, every student is eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day when they select the required items for a complete, reimbursable meal. Families can count on their children having access to balanced meals at school without an added expense.
“We want every student to know they can count on a balanced meal at school each day,” said Marlise Hornsteiner, Director of Food and Child Nutrition Services. “Our staff put a great deal of work into making that happen across the district. We’re proud to help students get the nourishment they need so they can focus on learning.”
Providing those meals takes coordination across the district. The Food Service Department includes 55 staff members and five managers, whose work supports approximately 3,000 breakfasts in addition to the 6,800 lunches served daily. Food is delivered to and stored at the district’s main warehouse at JP McCaskey, with meals delivered each day to buildings throughout SDoL.
At each elementary and middle school, one or two food service staff members prepare and serve meals for the students in their building. Students see the final steps as they move through the serving line, but each lunch reflects work that begins well before they arrive.
School lunch is also part of a longstanding national commitment to children’s nutrition. President Harry Truman signed the National School Lunch Act in 1946, establishing the National School Lunch Program to provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to students. The program helps schools sustain meal service through reimbursement for meals that meet federal requirements.
During National School Lunch Week, we thank our food service staff and managers for making school meals a dependable part of the day. Their work helps ensure students across SDoL have access to breakfast and lunch throughout the school year. Give them kudos on our social media!
To learn more about Food Services at SDoL, click here.