During the summer break, while most of Arlee High School closes down, its cafeteria remains open four days a week to provide meals for families in need. Children eat for free, while adults pay a nominal fee of around $3 for breakfast and $5 for lunch.
Arlee, situated in the Jocko Valley at the base of the Mission Mountains, is a small community on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Nearly half of its approximately 725 residents are Native American, with poverty being a common issue due to systemic barriers. The poverty rate in Arlee is around 34%, compared to the statewide rate of 12%.
Throughout the school year, hunger often indicates that a family is struggling financially. The district offers free meals and a snack to students, as well as backpacks of food to take home every weekend.
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“We know that there are families in need,” said Mike Perry, superintendent of the Arlee School District. “We try to do what we can.”
Arlee High School is part of the Summer Food Service Program, an initiative to combat childhood hunger during the summer months, supported by a partnership between Montana’s health department and education agency.
Montana faces alarming levels of childhood hunger, with one in six children living in food-insecure homes. Pandemic-era programs helped address this issue, but the unwinding of these programs, along with housing costs and inflation, has led to growing hunger in recent years.
For more information on summer EBT programs, meal sites, and food assistance, visit the following links:
– Summer EBT Information
– Find a Meal Site Near You
– Montana Food Bank Network
Montana is implementing programs like Summer EBT to support families and children during the summer months when access to school meals is limited. This program provides additional financial assistance for groceries to eligible families.
While there may be some delays with the Summer EBT program this year, families can access other summertime food assistance programs like congregate meal programs and to-go meal options.
Organizations like the Arlee School District are working tirelessly to combat childhood hunger, even at a financial cost. Despite challenges, they prioritize providing food services to students in need both during the school year and summer break.
Carly Graf is the State Bureau health care reporter for Lee Montana.
