Oklahoma City School serves free "supper" after school

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH — Cafeteria workers aren't just "lunch ladies" anymore. These days kitchen staff at Capitol Hill High School in south Oklahoma City proudly prepare breakfast, lunch and now supper for their students.

Student Manuel Hurtado has taken advantage of the free, after-school meal. He said he'll stop by the cafeteria after the last bell rings, when he's hungry.

"It's pretty good because sometimes after school, we're hungry and we don't have any access to food," Hurtado said. "So we can come here."

OKCPS kicked off the supper program February 6th. So far, it's served more than 1,500 meals, said Kevin Ponce, the district director of school nutrition services.

For the program, students don't have to qualify for free or reduced lunch. They only need to add their name to the sign-in sheet when they get in line.

"Whether that's for our kids that go home and don't know where their next meal is coming from or whether it be for our afterschool programs, that just need to replenish after they spent the whole day here at school, it’s something that I'm really happy we were able to be a part of," principal Adam Jewell said.

Jewell said his staff has to stay later to accommodate the program, but says an extra 30 to 60 minutes at school is no problem if it means no one is hungry.

This is a pilot program only available at Capitol Hill.

"We still want to work out kinks, to make sure everything is run right, make sure there's participation and make sure word gets out to the community," Ponce said.

The district hopes it can roll out the supper program to other schools in the new school year.

Though it's only offered there right now, students from any other school in the district can come to Capitol Hill while supper is served, 2:30 to 4:00 pm, and get a free meal too.

Ponce said there's a real need for something like this, calling the program long-overdue.

Families in the district are food-insecure, he said. Based on family income, 90 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Feeding America says one in four Oklahoma children risk going to bed hungry.

"It’s a good feeling-type thing when someone comes up to you and just says 'thank you' because we fed them," Ponce said.

"It's also a time for them just to fellowship with their friends and they're not under a clock of 'I've got to eat so quick and get to the next class.' They can kind of hang out and eat and have a good time," Jewell said.

The program is free to OKCPS as well. All costs are federally reimbursed.