Free Lunches for County Children

Nine months out of the year, families who need financial help can depend on school breakfast and lunch programs to help feed their children.

Then summer comes, and the breakfasts and lunches stop. Families must carry the load themselves. But struggling parents in Ventura County are getting a summer lunch break.

The state and federally funded Summer Food Service Program feeds 1,500 to 2,000 kids each day, according to Billie Hayes, program co-coordinator. It does not force the children to prove need, she said, although the program is intended to feed the needy.

“The impact of suddenly having four to six kids home for the summer is a hardship for the family,” Hayes said. “So this is a blessing for them.”

Cookie Lively is one of 10 employees of the Ventura Unified School District who, along with about 30 volunteers, help the district offer summertime lunches to area children, many of whom qualify for the federal school lunch program.

Lively, 42, said she enjoys seeing kids get excited for the meals she cooks during the school year at Ventura’s Anacapa Middle School, but added that she might like her summer job more. On Thursday, Lively handed out brown-bag lunches to a swarm of kids at Southwinds Recreation Center, 300 Clara St., in Oxnard.

More than 100 children crowded Lively’s table for a bean-and-cheese burrito, a celery stick with peanut butter, a small fruit cocktail and a carton of milk. And, she said, don’t forget the best part: animal cookies.

“I love to be with the kids, to watch them run around and have fun,” Lively said. “It’s like a picnic, and it makes me feel good.”

Karen Decker of Oxnard is one mother who said she appreciates the summer lunch effort. As her two daughters, Mariah, 3, and Nani, 5, savored peaches at her side, Decker explained that money recently has been tight around her house. She said the program serves several purposes.

“First, it’s something other than macaroni and cheese,” she said, laughing. “Second, they get to be with their friends; and third, maybe most importantly, by the time they are done they are ready to go home and take a nap.”

Maria Zuvita, 28, of Oxnard, called the program a wonderful help for Latinos who might not be employed, who are supporting a family, or who are just down on their luck.

Zuvita’s 6-year-old daughter, Yasmine, smiled and nodded as she enjoyed the last of her burrito.

Down a few chairs from that family, Margaret Munoz, 31, sat cross-legged before her two daughters, Cheyenne, 4, and Helena, 5. The girls teased each other with animal cookies as their mom considered the importance of a meal.

“I think it helps the kids get what they need, their nutrition, the things we sometimes forget to give them,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about making lunch, and they get to play a little.”

Eduardo Cazares, 13, of Oxnard, said he has been eating the free summer lunches for two years. He said the chance to be with his friends was what usually lured him. It’s harder to see all his pals when school lets out, he explained.

After kicking a ball with friends for about 20 minutes, 11-year-old Maril Ramirez stopped to sum up the program’s role in blunt terms.

“It’s a real cool program, because people who are poor can come here and get food without begging,” he said. “That’s why we come.”

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Times staff writer Anna Gorman contributed to this report.

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Federally Funded Summer Lunches

Lunches open to anyone:

Boys & Girls Club of Hueneme, 590 E. Pleasant Valley Road, Port Hueneme, now through Aug. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Boys & Girls Club of Ventura, 1929 Johnson Drive, now through Aug. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Boys & Girls Club of Ventura, 1440 N. Olive St., now through July 21, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

La Colonia Recreation Center, 195 N. Marquita St., Oxnard, now through Aug. 18, noon to 1:15 p.m.

Ventura Housing Authority, 995 Riverside Drive, Ventura, now through July 21, noon to 1 p.m.

Southwinds Recreation Center, 300 Clara St., Oxnard, now through Aug. 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lincoln School, 1107 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura, now through Aug. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sheridan Way School, 573 Sheridan Way, Ventura, now through July 21, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Will Rogers School, 316 Howard St., Ventura, now through Aug. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Lunches offered first to enrolled students, with any remaining offered to anyone:

Fiore Gardens, 480 E. Hillcrest Drive, Apt. A, Thousand Oaks, now through Aug. 18, 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.

Legget Court, 1884 Los Feliz Drive, Thousand Oaks, now through Aug. 18, 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Many Mansions, 227 E. Wilbur Road, Thousand Oaks, now through Aug. 11, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Los Arboles, 801 Calle Haya, Thousand Oaks, now through Aug. 18, 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Area Housing-Ellis Terrace, 1021 Temple Ave., Camarillo, now through Aug. 18, 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Villa Garcia, 1379 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Lunches offered only to enrolled students:

Ojai Recreation Center, 510 Park Road, Ojai, Wednesday to Aug. 18, noon to 1 p.m.