PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale and the Palmdale School District on Wednesday announced a new free summer lunch program.
At a news conference held at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Palmdale, Mayor Jim Ledford, Palmdale School District Superintendent Raul Maldonado and Pastor Darrell Downs announced the details of the program, which will be held Monday through Friday from June 8 to July 31 at eight different locations throughout the City.
The lunches, designed to be healthy, nutritious and tasty, will be provided by the Palmdale School District to kids ages 18 and under.
“So much can be achieved when we as a community come together, form working partnerships and work towards a common goal,” Ledford stated. “We’ve seen success time and time again in partnerships that we have in bringing the crime rate down, with the Palmdale Sheriff’s Department, City staff, and our residents teaming up for community based enforcement. We’re enjoying the many fruits of the relationships we have with Rossie Johnson and AV Youth Build and other groups, where they are transforming lives through and helping through their school and the new Palmdale Dream Center. Today, we see the power of collaboration once more in this new summer school lunch collaboration, which will take place at eight locations throughout our city and will address a need in our community in a very creative and effective way.”
“The Palmdale School District’s partnership with our City is only natural, as we are both working towards the common goal providing the best for our community,” Maldonado stated. “As we continue to build what we are calling the ‘Palmdale Promise,’ our plan for achieving student success, we look forward to many more opportunities to work together with the City and other community organizations. There are so many great things happening in Palmdale, this is just one example. All of them are coming about thanks to dedicated people working towards making our great community even better. We’re proud to be a part of it.”
Summer lunch program schedule
The lunches will be served, Monday through Friday, June 8 through July 31, at the following locations in Palmdale:
- 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Christ’s Church of the Valley, 2714 E. Ave. R
- 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Tumbleweed Neighborhood House, 1129 East Avenue R-4.
- 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. – Joshua Hills Park, 2020 Fairfield Drive
- 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. – Yucca Neighborhood House, 503 E. Ave. Q-3
- 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Yellen School, 37015 Golden View Way
- 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Summerwind School, 39360 Summerwind Drive
- 12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Domenic Massari Park, 37716 55th St. East
- 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. – Manzanita Neighborhood House, 38627 32nd St. E.
“We’re honored to be a partner in this new program in our community,” said Downs. “To have 300 kids on our campus in a safe environment enjoying nutritious lunches is exciting.”
For more information on the summer lunch program, call the Palmdale School District at 661-266-7280 or the City of Palmdale’s Neighborhood Services Department at 661-267-5126.
[Information via news release from the City of Palmdale.]
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Lynise Akibola says
This is for the needy not the greedy, David go out and get a little love in you can’t believe how you are being so negative and unkind! Smh
Hendia says
This is a wonderful program. I have been volunteering in schools for years, children coming to school to eat is sometimes the only meals they have for the whole day. It only is worse when school is out and there is still little to no food in their house, I am so happy to see this program again. This is a wonderful resource for children and families, not to mention the whole community.
Marie says
During school sessions let’s offer “free” lunches to all children, then ask them all to do a little work to pay for them. It would help both poor and rich kids realize that there is “no free lunch”. We brought our own lunches at my grade school but we were assigned weekly chores such as cleaning blackboards and raising the flag. Didn’t hurt us at all.
Someone ignored my do “a little work” and criticized me for wanting kids to have to work to survive. Working to survive is the way of the world. I would be glad to pay more taxes so that no kid goes hungry and for programs that help lift people out of poverty. Most people receiving benefits want to pay their own way but many need a helping hand up.
Eric says
Not a terrible idea, and would allow the school to possibly save dollar/man hours. Why not simply have the kids police the school grounds the way they had us do in the military. Quick line, everybody picks up the trash in front of them, viola. Allows janitorial staff to spend their time elsewhere rather than litter retrieval.
Tim Scott says
LOL…this is the Antelope Valley! Until the litter hits a fence there is no line on earth quick enough to just “pick up the trash in front of them” as the wind blows it by.
Kidding…I did my share of policing grounds in the military too, and I think it would be a great thing to teach to kids, free lunch or not.
Mary says
Every child has the right to eat. Sadly, so many parents are on drugs, putting men before their kids and giving these men new clothes, etc., that so many children go without food. It’s not the kids fault. At least we have the assurance that they will have at least one meal a day. I think it’s a good thing and I don’t mind extra tax money coming out of my paycheck. I am not starving by any means so if my tax dollars will feed a child, I wouldn’t even question it. I have had a job for 23 years but let me tell you, I will NEVER forget where I came from; welfare, food stamps, and medical. It’s my turn to give back.
David says
More “Nanny State” largess at the expense of the taxpayer. What happened to no free lunch?
WOW! says
@David, may you never go hungry or have any of your young children or relatives suffer stomach cramps from having an empty fridge/pantry. SMH- DISGUSTING LACK OF EMPATHY!
Tim Scott says
This will no doubt bounce right off David. His innate sense of superiority is sufficient to tell him that nothing like that will ever happen to him or his. Until it does, then he will be first in line screaming for help.
Tim Scott says
Learn about economics.
10 dog says
Amen, Teach the kid the AB,&C. Our taxes are too hight in California.
pirruris says
David, where the hell where you when we wastef billions in Iraq? Mr. Concern about spending. If we can afford to pay for 2.3 billion dollar aircraft, and corporate welfare, we can certainly afford to provide free meals for our kids. Also, please tell me what private school did you attend where you paid for your own education and meals. That is right, you did not. You attended free public schools and enjoy free meals like the rest. Hypocrite.
William says
@David
I suspect that if your taxes were cut to zero, you’d still complain about something.
What did you do with that windfall check for $300 that Bush sent you about 10 years ago after he had inherited a surplus. Did it make THE difference in your life.
Taxes could be cut in half for everyone in this country and the next thing that would happen is that businesses would raise their prices to capture that extra money in the economy because they think they have a right to it. It’s called inflation which has been kept fairly low for years.
Nature abhors extra money in the economy. Americans don’t save. They just spend everything they make.
I’ll bet you’re fine with spending more for the military, though.
Jose says
Let make kids go hungry, right? I promise your tax money is being put to good use by this program. I have worked with children and assure you that it is not their fault they go hungry.
Trustworthy Responsible Respectful & Fair says
Mr Maldonado was a half-asser when he was at Linda Verde back in the 90’s(he was MY PRINCIPAL)! How this man got to be a superintendent…this system is severely corrupted! He and his Latino preference for any school function in the past could be misconstrued to promote a race based superiority complex…(in the 60s,it was called segregation). Zero the Hero has accomplished a great deal since he was pulling cards and acting out against Caucasian employees of the LAUSD,in a biased manner unbecoming an official of the education curriculum.Unfortunately this comment is off topic…but it goes without saying…you can be the ceo of a fortune 500 and still be a snake oil salesperson….
pirruris says
Trustworthy, I feel the same way about pete knight and rex paris Pete Knight was one of the biggest racist in the AV, and what do we do? We name schools after him and Rex Paris. Pete Knight even did a nice racist letter talking smack about hispanics.and we reward him by naming a school afte him. Also, don’t underdtand why you are complianing about Mr. Maldonado. Last time I checked, all the school, city, and DOD jobs (in the AV) are still being being held by Caucasians, even though 85% of the AV population, are minorities. How the hell does that happen? I think you are just opening a can of worms.
Tim Scott says
According to the last census 34% of Lancaster residents and 24% of Palmdale residents are white, so your 85% figure is a bit exaggerated. Doesn’t invalidate your point, but accuracy is important.
Son of the Anti Rex says
When did Pete Knight use a survey taken by local pastors to create a racist hit mailer against an African Anerican council candidate? Correct answer…never. That’s what Parris did. He was also behind the smearing of John Mayfield, an African American who ran for a council seat in Palmdale. Then Parris sues Palndale to stop their elections on which an African American candidate Frederick Thompson won. It was also Parris who declared war on Section 8, a program that helps many African Americans. Notice a pattern here? Pete Knight was a saint compared to Parris.
Tim Scott says
Dude, Martin Luther was a saint compared to Imperious Rex.
Jason says
When was the last time you checked out the ethnicities of those employees?
Tim Scott says
Just because you suggested it I just did.
Lancaster city council…white.
Lancaster School district board…white.
Planning commission…white.
Criminal justice commission…white.
AV Union High School District board…all white but one.
City Manager…white.
Neighborhood vitalization commission…white.
Jason says
So basically a small fraction of the jobs that are supposedly all white?
And I’m going to call you out for the Criminal justice commission, there are two African Americans on that Commission.
Planning Commission also has an African American, a Mexican and an Indian
And I’m sure City Council Member Angela Underwood-Jacobs would be surprised to learn she’s white.
And that’s not even counting all the other city, school and DOD employees who certainly don’t count themselves as white.
AV Truth says
Jason is correct. Angela Underwood-Jacobs is African-American and is on the council. She was appointed by Parris. Just like Sandra Johnson was appointed. She is Hispanic. The only non-Caucasian person to be elected without first being appointed in Lancaster to the council or Lancaster school board was Henry Hearns. Yet Parris is suing Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Highland, and a handful of other school districts under the California Voting Rights Act saying that the candidates of choice of the protected classes are not represented. He also tries to sell us on the “fact” that Ron Smith is the preferred choice of the protected class. That and $1.50 will get you a cup of joe at Starbucks.
Tim’s underlying point of Lancaster tilting white is correct. When is the lawsuit going to be filed?
Tim Scott says
My bad for doing a quick look instead of real research. However given that Lancaster is about one third white demographically you sure can’t call the representation proportional.
That said, it doesn’t really matter. The color of the city council is GREEN. If you back Rex, he funds your reelection just like he funded your election in the first place. If you cross Rex, he will fund your replacement at the next election. End of story. The various commissions are under the same thumb.
Now that I have gotten my mom out of Lancaster and have no more ties there I find watching Rex and the rubber stamp gang at council meetings absolutely hilarious, but I do feel sorry for the citizens…except for the white racists who acknowledge Rex as their champion.
Son of the Anti Rex says
some of the best entertainment value for your viewing dollar can be seen the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 5 pm on Time Warner channel 28 or online at http://www.cityoflancasterca.org. it’s a cross between ‘send in the clowns’, ‘they’re coming to take me away ha ha’, and ‘looney tunes’.
Lori says
They should also be given out at Learn4Life where kids go to school all year round.
Kd says
Sooo what about the kids in Lancaster???
Jason says
Ask Rex
Sioux Ewe says
Rex can buy lunch for all the kids in Lancaster with all his millions he got from suing Starwood, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, school districts and our local VFW halls.
Autumn says
Starwood is not a school district though.