School District Reaches Community through Free Lunch Program

Colton Joint Unified School District’s Summer Feeding program is underway at Cooley Ranch Elementary School, one of six school sites in Colton to host program. The program provides free, nutritious meals to children ages 2-18. Cooley will host the program through July 23. “It’s great that the district is able to provide this program for our students and the community,” said Roy Ramirez, Cooley Ranch PTO president. He said he had visited during the lunch hour and seen the benefit of the program to the community. “We’d like to see more people come out and take advantage of this great program.” Colton’s school district offers the program in conjunction with the California Department of Education and the USDA. In 2014, the district estimated an average of 310 children received a daily breakfast while more than 1,300 received lunch district-wide. “Cooley Ranch families are very grateful for the free breakfast and lunch program offered during the summer break,” said Isabel Salas, the 2015-16 PTO vice president. “Being a low income area, this program is beneficial to the families of Cooley Ranch students and the surrounding community. “A plus to having the breakfast and lunch program at Cooley Ranch you are able to visit with old and new friends,” Salas said. “Also, new menu items are being offered during the summer that might be included in the menu for the new school year. We would like to thank the U.S. Department of Agriculture for teaming up with the Colton Joint Unified School District for providing these healthy meals.” All families are welcomed. The meals will be served in the park area off of Duron Street starting this week. (as of July 6, 2015) Meals are offered at different hours depending on the location. Times and locations are: Cooley Ranch Elementary School, 1000 S. Cooley Drive, Colton. Breakfast is from 8-8:30 a.m. Lunch, 11-11:30 a.m. through July 23. Rogers Elementary School, 955 W. Laurel St., Colton. Breakfast is from 8-8:30 a.m. Lunch, 11-11:30 a.m. through July 23. Washington High School, 900 E. C St., Colton. Breakfast is from 8-8:30 a.m. Lunch, 10:30-11 a.m. through July 23. Colton High School, 777 W. Valley Blvd. Colton. Breakfast is from 7:30-8 a.m. Lunch, 10-10:30 a.m. through July 23. Grand Terrace High School, 21810 Main St., Grand Terrace. Breakfast is from 7:30-8 a.m. Lunch from 10-10:30 a.m. through July 23. Lunch is also being offered at two community centers: Gonzalez Community Center, 670 Colton Ave., Colton. Lunch only from, 11:30 a.m.-noon a.m. through July 24. Luque Community Center, 292 E. O St., Colton. Lunch only, 12:30-1 p.m. through July 24. The program was offered at Alice Birney Elementary, Terrace Hills Middle School and Colton Middle Schools, but it concluded July 2. The 2015-16 school year is scheduled to begin July 29. For more information call 909-580-6650.