School District Five summer Farmers’ Market offers free produce to families in need

For Immediate Release – June 20, 2019

School District Five summer Farmers’ Market offers free produce to families in need

IRMO – Lexington-Richland School District Five has launched a new summer program to provide free, fresh produce to Irmo-area families in need.

A partnership with Pelion-based farm WP Rawl, the district’s new Farmers’ Market initiative will be held at the Irmo Village Apartments Thursdays, June 20 through August 1, excluding Thursday, July 4.

Each family will receive one free bag of summer produce including a range of cucumbers, collards, sweet corn, squash and tomatoes. Recipes will be included. Produce will vary and will be provided while supplies last each week.

“As a district, we know that there are needs in our community and that continues during the summer months when school is not in session,” said Todd Bedenbaugh, director of student nutrition for the district. “We serve local, fresh foods in cafeterias as often as possible, and we want to get fresh foods to our families this season. We’re grateful to WP Rawl for providing the produce because we know our families in need will benefit from this effort.”

Bedenbaugh said that while the district’s Farmers’ Market will have just one site this year, he hopes to expand it in the future. In addition to the Farmers’ Market, the district also is participating in a Summer Food Service Program again this year.

The program began on June 10 and ends on August 1. Meals will not be offered during the week of July 1, 2019. All children ages 2-18 are eligible for the service. School District Five served over 51,000 meals last summer. 2019 Sites include:

Irmo High School (6671 St. Andrews Road, Columbia)                                                               

Monday-Thursday

Breakfast: 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

June 10-August 1

Dutch Fork High School (1400 Old Tamah Road, Irmo)

Monday-Thursday

Lunch: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

June 17-August 1

Harbison West Elementary School (257 Crossbow Drive, Columbia)

 Monday-Thursday

 Breakfast: 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

 Lunch: 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

 June 17-July 25

Edventure Museum (211 Gervais Street, Columbia)

Monday-Friday

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Snack: 3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

June 10-August 1

Irmo Village Apartments (700 Chipwood Court, Columbia

Monday-Thursday

Lunch: 1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

June 10-August 1

River Oaks Apartments (5324 Bush River Road, Columbia)

Monday-Thursday

Lunch: 12 p.m.-12:30 p.m.

June 10-August 1

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