South Messenger - October 4th, 2020

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October 4, 2020 - MESSENGER - PAGE 3
Hamilton Twp. Schools offer free student meals
By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
A federal grant is providing a free
breakfast and lunch for all students in
kindergarten through 12th grade throughout
the Hamilton Local Schools district.
The service started Sept. 8 and is funded
through the USDA National School
Lunch Program. It continues until the end
of the year or when USDA grant funds are
exhausted. After that, only students verified
to receive free or reduced-cost breakfast
and lunch will continue to do so.
“The program provides meals, not only
for students who qualify for free or reduced
meals, but also for each and every one of
our students,” said Hamilton Schools
Treasurer Adam Collier.
According to Collier, the district applied
for the grant last spring and is reimbursed
for both breakfast and lunch meals served
to students during the funding period.
There is no change in the components of
the free meals.
“We participate in the National School
Lunch Program and follow the meal pattern
for lunch and breakfast. Grant money
would not affect the meal pattern regulations,”
said Mary Anne Hillerich, food services
coordinator.
Hillerich said the four district school
buildings normally serve approximately
2,000 students for lunch and 1,400 for
breakfast. There are 3,000 students
enrolled in the district.
The regular cost for lunch at the high
school is $2.75, at the middle school it is
$2.50, the cost at the intermediate building
is $2.25 and the price for a lunch at the elementary
school is $2.
Lunch cost savings for a family of four
Southeast Branch Library
is open for browsing
By Rick Palsgrove
Managing Editor
People love libraries and the ongoing
coronavirus pandemic put a crimp in that
love affair when the Columbus
Metropolitan Library system closed all its
branches on March 13.
But hope springs eternal for area book
and lovers of information because, as of
Sept. 22, the Southeast Branch of the
Columbus Metropolitan Library, located at
3980 S. Hamilton Road, opened for browsing.
“Like all CML locations, the Southeast
Branch plays a vital role in the community
it serves with services like public computer
access, Job Help, Homework Help, and
Reading Buddies,” said Gregg Dodd, director
of marketing for the Columbus
Metropolitan Library. “During the COVID-
19 pandemic, the branch has worked even
harder to meet the needs of customers with
curbside pickup and free copying, scanning
and faxing services. The Southeast Branch
and all other locations are open for limited
services. The Southeast Branch opened
ahead of 10 other CML locations.”
Dodd said the Southeast Branch is currently
open for limited services, which
CW Recycles, a local recycling drop-off
program is offered on the first and third
Saturdays of each month from 9 a.m to
noon in the parking lot of
Winchester/Indian Trail Elementary
Schools, 6767 and 6865 Gender Road,
Canal Winchester.
Participants are asked to sort items into
two categories prior to drop-off.
Local drop-off recycling
includes: browsing the collection; using the
public computers; print, copy, scan and
faxing; getting job help; picking up items;
returning items; and getting Grab and Go
books.
“Curbside Pick-up remains available as
well,” said Dodd.
Due to the pandemic, ongoing safety
precautions remain in place. According to
Dodd, the following restrictions and services
remain unavailable for customers:
•Customers over the age of five are
required to wear a face covering.
•Meeting rooms are unavailable for
booking and use.
•All in-person programming has been
paused (such as Storytimes).
•The number of customers in the building
are limited to ensure effective social
distancing. The library staff will let customers
know if they need to wait.
•There is a one hour limit on the use of
public computers.
Dodd said the normal daily attendance
at the Southeast Branch when it was in
operation before the COVID outbreak was
around 650 visits.
Call 614-645-2275 for library information
or visit columbuslibrary.org.
•Cardboard or any packaging that
when torn is brown.
•Aluminum, white paper/packages,
plastic up to recycle symbol 6.
•No glass.
To comply with recommended state and
district guidelines, all guests must remain
in their vehicles, volunteers will be on
hand to remove recyclable items.
with two students in the middle school is
approximately $100 a month.
According to Collier, during the preceding
fiscal year–July 1, 2019 through June
30, 2020–the district received $971,565 in
federal assistance for its free/reduced
lunch program. Hillerich said 72 percent of
the student population received free or
reduced meals for the 2019 through 2020
school year.
“So far, we are at 58 percent for this
school year, but we are still receiving applications
from families,” said Hillerich.
In addition to cafeteria meals, hot
lunches and go-to breakfasts are delivered
via daily buses at different locations
throughout the district. A cafeteria worker
rides alongside the bus driver to help deliver
and keep track of students picking up
meals.