Lordsburg schools offer free summer meals for children through July 15

Free breakfasts and lunches were available in Lordsburg for children 18 and under at two school sites, giving Hidalgo County families a weekday food option during the long stretch when school was out. The program began June 1 and runs through July 15, Monday through Friday, with breakfast served from 9:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and lunch from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meals were being served at RVT Elementary, 500 Ownby Street, and at LMS ADMIN/FIELD, 401 W. 4th Street, in Lordsburg. The meals had to be eaten on-site, making the program a grab-and-stay option for parents and guardians who need a predictable place to bring children during the workday. The district also lists its main food-services office at 401 W. 4th St., Lordsburg, NM 88045.

The summer meals program is part of New Mexico’s Summer Food Service Program, which is designed to bridge the summertime nutrition gap for children and youth. State officials say children ages 1 through 18 are eligible, and no registration or proof of enrollment is required. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says free on-site summer meals are available for kids 18 and under at schools and community locations.

For families in a rural county like Hidalgo, the value is immediate: a child can get breakfast and lunch in town without adding another stop, another bill or another layer of paperwork. That matters most when school is closed, jobs still require parents to leave home, and summer child care has to stretch across weeks, not days.

Debra Candelaria, a program manager, said the meals are especially important as grocery bills climb. “The price of food increasing so much, it really helps fill the gap,” she said.

Lordsburg Municipal Schools’ weekday schedule gives families a stable place to count on through mid-July, turning two district locations into a summer nutrition stop for children across the community.