Meet up and Eat up provided close to 200,000 meals to students in the Copper Country in 2024

Over eleven weeks last summer Houghton, Hancock, and Calumet schools provided more than 190,000 meals to students. The meet-up and eat-up summer meals program returns in 2025. And school districts want to make sure students and families know how to take advantage of the program.

Food services director for Houghton Portage Township Schools Shelby Turnquist leads the Copper Country’s sites in Houghton Hancock, Lake Linden, and L’Anse. She says reaching out to students and providing meals during the summer has helped families in times of need.

This program is an all-around winner. We can help the students that need the food. We can keep people employed at the schools that would normally have 12 weeks without pay. And we also have seven farmers that we purchase food from, which is a great help for them. One of the farmers said that 40 % of his business comes from what we do with the school, which I thought was great. Between Houghton and Hancock last year in 11 weeks, we served 199,000 meals. – Shelby Turnquist, Food Services Director, Houghton Portage Township Schools

On pick-up days, families will attend a pop-up grocery store inside their school, where they can pick up fresh produce, premade meals for lunch or dinner. Students receive four cereal kits and items to make three hot meals. Turnquist recently purchased several turkey roasts in anticipation of making smoked turkey for the program. And the connection with seven local farmers has added a wide variety of fresh produce. Last summer, she says, the program shared items like kale, raspberries, blueberries, cabbage, potatoes, and beets with families. Adding this summer, the program hopes to have a staff member on hand to provide a cooking demonstration.

Turnquist says districts will work with families to make sure each student has enough food each week. Those who need to customize their pickup location or have allergies should contact Shelby Turnquist or their meet-up site leader to learn more about the program. Each site will operate slightly differently, and parents should make sure to register for the program at their child’s school. Schools not operating a program will connect families with a nearby school district to reach as many students as possible.

Use the QR code on the attached posters to register your students. Those with questions should contact Shelby Turnsquist at 906.482.0456 Ext 3340 or by email at sturnquist@hpts.us

Houghton Portage Township Schools

Meal Pick up will be once a week on Wednesday’s from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm

At Houghton Elementary Schools

in the bus lane @ 203 West Jacker Ave, Houghton MI 49931

June 11, 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and August 6, 13, 20

Hancock Public Schools

Meal Pick up will be once a week on Thursday’s from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

At Barkell Elementary Schools

1201 N. Elevation Street, Hancock, MI 49931

June 12, 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and August 7, 14, 21

See attachments for Houghton and Hancock

Calumet Schools