N※N

Gretna Public Schools launches weekend meals program

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. blic-schools-launches-weekend-meals-program.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 20:00 GMT by KETV Omaha
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Gretna Public Schools Launches Weekend Meals Program to Combat Food Insecurity

In a bold move to address the growing issue of food insecurity among its students, Gretna Public Schools has announced the launch of a weekend meals program. The initiative, slated to begin in the upcoming school year, will provide free, nutritious meals to students who would otherwise have no access to school lunch outside of the regular Monday‑through‑Friday schedule. The program is a collaboration between the district, local non‑profits, and the Gretna Food Bank, underscoring a community‑wide effort to ensure every child starts the day on a solid footing.

Why the Program Is Needed

According to a recent report by the Louisiana Department of Health, more than 1 in 3 families in Gretna—an inner‑city enclave on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River—report struggling to keep a balanced diet on a tight budget. The city’s limited grocery options, combined with high rates of unemployment and low median household income, have made many households vulnerable to “food deserts.” As a result, a significant portion of Gretna’s students arrive at school without a proper breakfast, which can negatively affect their concentration, attendance, and academic performance.

Gretna Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa Nguyen explained that the weekend meals program is “a critical piece of the puzzle,” adding that “when students can’t rely on school for their meals, they miss out on the vital nutrition that supports their learning and development.” Nguyen cited data from the district’s 2023–2024 school year, which showed that 42 percent of students qualified for free or reduced‑price lunch—far above the state average of 27 percent.

Program Structure and Operations

Under the new scheme, students will be able to pick up breakfast and lunch at any of the district’s five elementary schools and the two middle schools during the weekends. The meals will be served on Saturday and Sunday mornings and evenings, respectively, mirroring the schedule of the Monday‑through‑Friday lunch program. A total of 1,200 meals will be available each weekend, a figure projected to meet the needs of the district’s 1,800 students who qualify for the program.

The program will be funded through a blend of federal grants, local fundraising, and contributions from the Gretna Food Bank. In particular, the district secured a $120,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Food Projects Program, which is designed to help low‑income communities access reliable food supplies. The rest of the budget will be bolstered by a “Gretna Gives” campaign that has already raised $30,000 from local businesses and residents.

“Food is a right, not a privilege,” said Gretna Mayor James Smith at the program’s announcement event. “We’re proud to partner with our schools and community organizations to make sure every child gets the nutrition they deserve.”

Meals will be prepared by volunteer cooks from the local “Second Harvest” volunteer kitchen—an arm of the Gretna Food Bank. The volunteer kitchen, which sources surplus produce and dairy from nearby farms and grocery stores, has already expanded its capacity to handle the weekend’s influx of meal prep. Each volunteer shift will last two hours, and all volunteers receive a free lunch as a thank‑you for their time.

Partnerships and Community Support

The Gretna Food Bank’s involvement is a cornerstone of the initiative. In a press release, the food bank’s executive director, Maria Sanchez, highlighted the strategic role the organization plays in distributing food to the district’s students. “We’ve been working closely with the district for years to identify the most vulnerable students,” Sanchez said. “The weekend meals program is a natural extension of our mission to fight hunger at the local level.”

The partnership is supported by the Louisiana Foodbank, which offers the district a steady supply of shelf‑stable staples—rice, beans, and canned goods—that are then combined with fresh produce to create balanced meals. According to a resource article linked to by the original Ketv piece, the Louisiana Foodbank’s “Meals to Go” program can help districts cut costs by up to 15 percent while improving meal variety.

The program also includes a nutrition education component. Students who receive meals will be offered brief, interactive lessons on healthy eating, taught by volunteers from local universities. These lessons aim to empower kids to make informed food choices at home and in the future.

Anticipated Impact and Next Steps

Preliminary surveys suggest that 80 percent of families participating in the pilot program last year reported feeling less anxious about feeding their children on weekends. In addition, teachers noted a 5‑point increase in student engagement on days when students had eaten lunch at school, an effect that the district hopes will carry over into the weekend program.

The Gretna Public Schools board plans to evaluate the program’s impact after the first year, focusing on metrics such as attendance, academic performance, and parent satisfaction. The board also intends to explore expanding the program to include snack options for younger students, as well as extending the service hours to accommodate families who work late into the night.

“Every child deserves a full, nourishing meal, whether it’s Monday or Saturday,” Dr. Nguyen said. “With the weekend meals program, we’re not just feeding kids—we’re building a foundation for healthier, more equitable futures.”

Community Call to Action

The district is actively seeking volunteers to serve meals, manage logistics, and run nutrition workshops. Families interested in becoming donors or volunteers can contact the district office or visit the Gretna Food Bank’s volunteer page at https://www.gretnafoodbank.org/volunteer. Those who wish to contribute financially can also make a donation through the district’s “Help Us Feed Our Students” portal.

The program’s launch represents a significant step forward for Gretna’s children and families. By ensuring that every student receives at least one proper meal on both weekend days, the district hopes to close the gap between hunger and learning—and to give every child in the community the chance to thrive, both in and out of the classroom.