Nine new food truck stops

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After serving 497,275 free school meals in the past four years the Hillsboro City Schools Child Nutrition Program is kicking off its 2021 effort with a summer celebration on Friday with plans to add nine new stops this summer plus a second vehicle it is calling the Juice Box.

“We’re adding nine new stops, plus one we did not offer last year,” Hillsboro Food Service Director Jessica Walker said. “But it’s going to be fast. Each stop will be about 15 minutes.”

In addition, Walker said, all Hillsboro students will be offered free breakfast and lunch next school year.

This year’s summer meals program will be offered Monday through Friday from June 1 through Aug. 6 with a break June 28 to July 2. On Fridays, weekend self stable meals will also be available to be picked up.

In addition to the food truck stops, breakfast will be offered at 8 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hillsboro High School.

The Tomahawk Food Truck will make the following stops: 10:45 a.m. at the central office at the former school site off West Main Street, 11 a.m. at Highland Heights Apartments, 11:30 a.m. at Cedarwoods Apartments, 12 noon at a Liberty Park shelter house, 1:15 p.m. at the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District on East Street, and 2 p.m. at the Rocky Fork State Park North Beach area. On Wednesday’s only, the Tomahawk truck will stop at the Peace Lutheran Church on Harry Sauner Road at 11 a.m.

The Juice Box, a former school bus that is being remodeled and decorated for the food program, will make the following stops: 10:30 a.m. at Hillsboro Estates, 10:45 a.m. at Hi-land Terrace Apartments, 11:30 a.m. at the Red Barn on North Shore Drive, 11:45 a.m. at Highland Holiday, 12:15 p.m. at Highland Holiday B Community Center, 12:30 p.m. at Greater Life Assembly, 1 p.m. at the Marshall Community Center, 1:30 p.m. at the Berrysville Township Building, 2 p.m. at the New Market Township Building, 2:30 p.m. at the Highland County Fairgrounds and 3 p.m. at the Hillsboro Swim Club.

On June 1-4 only, the Juice Box will stop at 12 noon at the Hillsboro Church of Christ.

On July 26-30 only, the Juice Box will stop at the Boy Scouts Camp in Hillsboro.

Walker said that because of new guidelines, the meals will not have to be consumed where they are delivered this year. Instead, it will be more like a drive-through program.

She also said the program will not be able to maintain all this year’s stops next year. “But we can see what places have the highest attendance and next year we can look at which stops are the most beneficial,” Walker said.

The Summer Kick-off Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the central office location off West Main Street. Walker said that due to generous donations from the Hillsboro community, food will also be available for adults at the celebration.

There will be inflatables and games at the celebration, plus the free meals. In addition, the following businesses will have booths set up: Hillsboro Lions Club, Highland County District Library, Seal-Tite, First State Bank, Laurel Oaks, Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District, Bridgewood Child Care Center, FRS and Reach For Tomorrow.

A year ago, 99,414 meals were served through the summer program, and the program has received $29,500 in grants since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The goal for the summer program this year, Walker said, it to serve about 1,400 meals each day. That will include meals for participants in athletic camps and at similar activities at the school over the summer.

“We know our job is not done feeding our community’s children during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Walker said. “We would love to see all of you come out and celebrate with us. If you know of other sites, camps and events/groups that may benefit from the HCS Tomahawk Food Truck throughout the summer, or at the kick-off event, please share our details or forward their name and contact information.”

Daily menus will be posted on the Hillsboro City Schools Tomahawk Food Truck Facebook page.

Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522.

Staff with the Hillsboro City Schools Tomahawk Food Truck deliver meals during a past summer stop in Hillsboro.
https://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2021/05/web1_Food-Truck.jpegStaff with the Hillsboro City Schools Tomahawk Food Truck deliver meals during a past summer stop in Hillsboro. Times-Gazette file photo

Hillsboro City Schools Food Service Director Jessica Walker (right) accepts an award at last week’s school board meeting from the Childrens Hunger Alliance.
https://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2021/05/web1_Jessica-pic.jpgHillsboro City Schools Food Service Director Jessica Walker (right) accepts an award at last week’s school board meeting from the Childrens Hunger Alliance. Jeff Gilliland | The Times-Gazette
Summer Kick-off Celebration Friday at central office

By Jeff Gilliland

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