By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

CLANTON —The Chilton County Schools at-risk afterschool and summer feeding program could be expanding, if it receives a $40,000 grant for which it has applied.

Melody Bailey, CCS Child Nutrition Program Director, said since the grant is through the National League of Cities it has to be administered through a city government.

“They won’t give it to us as a school system, but they will give it to you as a city,” Bailey said.

The Clanton City Council approved a line item for the grant during its meeting Monday.

“As the bills come in, they will be sent to the city hall and they will reimburse [from the grant money] whomever it goes to,” Mayor Billy Joe Driver said.

A proposed budget for the potential grant was given to the Clanton City Council. The funding would cover personnel, transportation, administrative salaries, office supplies and promotion of the program.

The food for the afterschool and summer food programs will be prepared in the Chilton County Schools kitchens, then transported to the other locations following food safety guidelines. School personnel working extra hours to assist in the program would be paid through the grant funds.

“This will provide extra meals throughout our city for areas. We want to try to add a few more places besides the Y … where children are being missed,” Bailey said.

Evening snacks and meals would be provided at the Y as well as to Clanton sports teams and children at other locations.

Councilman Awlahjaday Agee suggested the E.M. Henry Community Center be considered as a location. Bailey said the program was open to any suggestions of additional locations.

“We can look by address to see if that would be a qualifying spot because we do have a few spots that are not, but most of the city is,” Bailey said.

Children 18 and younger in the city would qualify to receive food in this program. Bailey said the child is not asked for any personal information.

Bailey said the grant would help kick-off the expansion of the program, and continuation of the services would be covered through USDA meal reimbursement.

“The more kids that we feed, the more reimbursement money we get, and that normally covers the cost of our employees and the food and preparation …but because we are working people … extra time for them that can add to the expense and we might need to hire a few extra people,” Bailey said.

The Y served as a location for the program last summer. Funding for the personnel was paid by the Y. This grant would allow the Y to be included as an afterschool location as well.

The council also discussed the need for a new roof at the Y. A request for bids on the back portion, which is in need of replacement, with an alternate bid to replace the entire roof will be sent out.

The council also voted to change its next meeting to Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.