Seamless Summer Food Service provides free lunch to youth 18 and under

Homemade salad dressings, lasagna, crunchy chicken wrap and fresh jicama slices are not what you would expect on a school lunch menu, but this is an example of what students in the Rialto Unified School District consume on a regular basis. Although school is out for summer, anyone under the age of 18 will still be able to enjoy a healthy lunch through the newly established Seamless Summer Food Service Program that kicked off at Rialto Park on Friday, June 8.

“The (kick-off event) is about giving back to the community and to raise awareness about our free lunch program all summer,” said Board of Education Vice President Edgar Montes who brought his son, Quetzal, to the festivities. “We’re about families.”

The crowd of roughly 1,000 enjoyed free burgers, salad and fresh fruit. Entertainment was provided by Folklorico Generacion Musica – comprised of Rialto natives, and DJ Dizzy, as well as face painting, health resources, craft activities and a giant slide.

“I cook for (district students) the way I cook for my children,” said Fausat Rahman-Davies, Assistant Director of Nutrition Services. “I want them to have healthy choices and to get nourished.”

According to Nutrition Services Supervisor Kristina Kraushaar food preparation at the barbeque are FDA-compliant. “Here we have an opportunity to show the community what Nutrition Services does behind the scenes everyday to take care of students, and that we are on their side.”

The summer food program will be held Monday – Friday until July 27 (no service on July 4), from 11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Rialto Park (which will feature daily gardening, STEAM, reading and crafts activities), Andreson Park, Carl Johnson Community Center; Carter, Eisenhower and Rialto High schools; Frisbie, Jehue, Kolb and Rialto Middle schools.