AURORA | Mona Martinez sees plenty of cases where parents have to juggle priorities.

Martinez, the director of the Aurora Public Schools’ Nutrition Services department, said it’s an all-too-common factor for families from schools that have a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunches. The end product of stretching a dollar to cover shelter, food and clothing often results in students showing up to school hungry.

“Do I see that there is a great need? Most definitely. We see kids coming to school hungry,” Martinez said. “Parents have to juggle the money. Maybe you don’t buy enough groceries for the dollar to stretch. There is a great need.”

As students across the district leave buildings to enjoy summer vacation, the district is offering a choice for those who depend on the breakfasts and lunches served at cafeteria during the school year. Until June 28, APS will be participating in the federally funded Summer Food Service Program, an initiative that offers anyone between the ages of 1 and 18 breakfast and lunch for free. Adults can pay $1.60 and $3.35 for breakfast and lunch, respectively.

“When school is no longer in session, those kids are still hungry. This is a way to provide meals to the students who still need food,” Martinez said. “We serve about 4,000 meals during the summer. That’s a drastic drop of between 20,000 and 21,000 during the school year.”

The program is available at 33 schools across the district where the percentage of students who receive free and reduced lunch is 50 percent or more. After the program ends on June 28, the Food Bank of the Rockies will offer programs to bridge the gap until the beginning of APS classes in August.

“We offer the same high quality nutritious meals. We do hot breakfasts and cold breakfasts,” Martinez said, adding that cold cereal remains a favorite for many. “We do oven-baked chicken, hamburgers, lasagna, spaghetti, a nice selection of fresh produce.”

Reach reporter Adam Goldstein at agoldstein@aurorasentinel.com or 720-449-970The program will run at the following locations until June 28.

The program will run at the following locations until June 28.
Arkansas Elementary
Aurora Hills Middle School
Boston K-8
Central High School
Century Elementary
Clyde Miller Elementary
Columbia Middle School
Crawford Elementary
Dartmouth Elementary
East Middle School
Fletcher Elementary
Fulton Elementary
Gateway High School
Iowa Elementary
Jewell Elementary
Kenton Elementary
Laredo Elementary
Mracheck Middle School
Montview Elementary
North Middle School
Paris Elementary
Park Lane Elementary
Peoria Elementary
Sable Elementary
6th Avenue Elementary
South Middle School
Tollgate Elementary
Vassar Elementary
Vaughn Elementary
Virginia Court Elementary
West Middle School
Wheeling Elementary
Yale Elementary
For more information, log on to aurorak12.org.