Rockcastle County Schools recognized its food-service staff and community volunteers Thursday for organizing a summer meal program that district officials said provided 55,691 meals in June and July. The board held a short ceremony to thank staff members credited with organizing and running the program.

District leaders said the program began after concerns were raised during deliberations over an amended school calendar that stretched the school year. The board noted the feeding program was intended to reduce hunger for students and families affected by the schedule change.

The district identified two staff members — Chris and Tabitha — as the primary planners and thanked “lots and lots” of volunteers who helped package and distribute meals. A board member told the meeting that program workers delivered the equivalent of roughly three meal bags to each seat at a 20,000-seat arena to convey the scale of distribution. The board also said many community groups — church camps, sports teams, local banks and other volunteers — helped staff the effort.

Board members praised the program’s effect on families. One member said the effort may have been “a deciding factor whether somebody got to buy medicine that week,” underscoring the local need the program addressed.

The recognition did not include any formal policy vote; the board used the agenda item as a spotlight and appreciation moment. District staff said the feeding effort will be repeated next summer.

Ending: Board members said they plan to continue the summer feeding effort and to keep working with community partners to support families during out-of-school periods.