Three Forks Schools offering free meals

The Three Forks Schools are once again serving free meals this summer.

The food will be prepared and served Monday to Friday at the food trailer located near the football stadium concession stand. Breakfast will be available from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Food insecurity is an income issue, and poverty is one of the strongest predictors of food insecurity. 1 in 7 Gallatin County residents live below the federal poverty level. The USDA estimates that until a family's income is 185% above the poverty line, they are at risk of experiencing food insecurity. Last year, HRDC's Kids Summer Lunch Program served 31,848 meals. On average, more of each household's income in Gallatin County is going toward increased housing costs this year. HRDC's Gallatin Valley Food Bank, the entity that oversees the Kids Summer Lunch Program, is expecting an increase in demand for summer lunches as a result of the higher cost of living that is impacting our community

"In addition to paying higher rents and higher prices for gas and other commodities, households are experiencing a dramatic increase in food costs as well," said Lyra Leigh-Nedbor, HRDC's Child Nutrition Program Coordinator.