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For area families struggling with unemployment, disability or limited resources, summer can be a scary time.
During the school year, students have -- in the most recent school year -- received a free breakfast and lunch at school each day classes were in session.
Last summer, Webster City schools were able to provide meals to students at a pickup/drive-up distribution at Webster City Middle School and Northeast Hamilton Elementary. Students in the summer of 2021 were eligible to pick up five lunches and five breakfasts each Monday at the drive-through site.
Lori Hartnett, assistant director of Food Services for Webster City Schools, said unfortunately the schools won't be offering the summer meals in 2022.
The biggest obstacle? The supply chain.
"We've struggled all year to get supplies," Hartnett said. "Unfortunately, we are limited to buying from specific vendors. We are bound to our contracts and can't just run to Sam's Club and pick up produce for the kids. It's frustrating, I know the need is great."
During 2019, more than half of the students in Webster City schools qualified for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. For the past school year, all students qualified for a free breakfast and a free lunch.
In the fall of 2022, families will need to reapply for free or reduced-price meals and students will need to pay for school lunch and breakfast, Hartnett said.
Eight local churches will work together this summer to provide meals for children aged 5-18 on Mondays and Fridays, starting Thursday, June 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at East Twin Park.
Children and their families can pick up meals each Monday and Friday, with the program ending Aug. 17.
Robin Streigle, of Webster City Church of Christ, said families are welcome, and 100 meals will be available each Monday and Friday.
Streigle said fruit will be available buffet-style, and other offerings will include Walking Tacos, burgers and hot dogs.
"In previous summers, volunteers have been frustrated by food waste. We want the students to just take the fruit or sandwiches they like, to cut down on waste," she said.
Streigle is also offering weekly cooking classes for students aged 5-18 at the Webster City Church of Christ, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Up to 30 students can participate in each cooking class each Wednesday.
There is no charge for the class, and students will be able to sample the foods they prepare. Sign-up for the class is on the Webster City Church of Christ website or on its Facebook page. Streigle said she had students from Stanhope and Jewell signed up for the first cooking class.
The twice-weekly summer meal program for students and the weekly cooking class are sponsored by the Webster City Ministerial Association.
Additional resources for struggling families can be found at food pantries in Hamilton County. They include:
s The Lord's Cupboard at 439 Main St., Jewell;
s Stratford Community Food Pantry;
s Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. at 1440 E. Second St., Webster City.