The Summer Meal program is in full swing, started on Wednesday

This is the Valley View Elementary School Cafeteria staff making the summer meal program go. Left to right are Genesis Huffman, a newby, Toni Bryant, Brandy Gibson, the cafeteria manager, Micaela Combs, in her sixth year with the summer program, Nicole Fahrner-Garcia and Stephanie Petree.
More than 35 vehicles were lined up before distribution time on Wednesday at Valley View School.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Eleven thirty until 12:30pm is the magic hour for the weekly Summer Meal distribution on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Day one was Wednesday at Valley View Elementary with distribution set for Thursday at Campbell High, the Jacksboro side, and Jellico High.

Amanda White and her son Eugene were the first in line on Wednesday arriving around 10:45am.

“We handed out all 175 of our meal packs and only had to turn away one car. They can get their meal pack on Thursday at CCHS,” said Brandy Gibson, the cafeteria manager at Valley View Elementary School.

Gibson was pleased with the efficiency of her staff. The first person in line, Amanda White and her son, Eugene, (above) arrived about 45 minutes early. The distribution began at 11:30am and wrapped up at 12:05pm.

This summer marks the fifth year White has taken advantage of the meal packs program. Her son, Eugene, starts at CCHS in August. “This really helps a lot. You wouldn’t believe how much it helps,” said White.

It’s clear a lot of hard work goes into the weekly food distribution but you’d never know it from the bright attitude of the VVES cafeteria staff.

The VVES cafeteria staff packs a whole lot into its four day, summer break schedule starting before 7am and wrapping up at 1:30pm. Gibson and her team prepare breakfast and lunch for the summer school students and then prep the meal packs for Wednesday’s distribution.

Valley View has an ideal distribution point.

Each child receives seven fruits, seven veggies, seven breakfast entrees, seven lunch entrees plus a gallon of white or chocolate milk, according to Gibson.

“We don’t miss this opportunity. With six youngsters, this is a tremendous help, especially since my husband is the only one of us working,” said Chasity Hatfield (in above photo).

Here is the schedule:

June

Valley View Pickup Wednesdays: June 10, June 17, June 24

June 

CCHS Thursdays: June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25

Jellico High Thursdays: June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25

July

Valley View and Jellico High on Wednesdays: July 1, 8, 15, 22

CCHS Thursdays: July 2, 9, 16, 23

All pickups are 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

“I don’t know what I’d do without the summer meal program,” said Amanda White. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/04/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

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