Special to
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Parish President Natalie Robottom and members of her staff served lunch to over 300 children Wednesday participating in the St. John Summer Feeding Program at LaPlace Elementary School.

The Summer Feeding Program provides meals for children 18 years and younger who reside in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Meals are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday at five locations throughout the parish: Garyville/Mt. Airy Math & Science Magnet School, Leon Godchaux Alternative Program, New Wine Christian Fellowship, West St. John Elementary and LaPlace Elementary.

Breakfast is available from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Garyville/Mt. Airy Math & Science Magnet School, Leon Godchaux Alternative Program and New Wine Christian Center.

Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 10,000 meals have been administered through the program.

Transportation is also provided to all feeding locations. Rhonda Lemons, director of the Health and Human Services Department, said staff are seeing new faces and feeding a broader range of St. John’s youth.

“This program is truly touching hearts and satisfying stomachs everywhere in the parish,” Lemons said.

Youth involved in parish summer camps including the St. John Parish Recreation camp, sports camps and local church camps also participate.

“Summer Feeding satisfies an essential need during the summer when many of our youth have limited access to healthy and nutritious foods,” Robottom said.

The Summer Feeding Program is scheduled to end July 10.

For information on transportation or locations, call contact the Health and Human Services Department at 985-536-4955.