Kim Fuentez sat in a shady spot of the Denair High School lunch area, taking a break from a full day of feeding her community.
All around her, people exited the DHS cafeteria with a barbecued chicken dinner, and headed for a table where they could enjoy their meal.
“Friday is always a good day for a barbecue,” said Fuentes, who, just a few hours earlier, oversaw the distribution of barbecued hamburgers for lunch at nearby Denair Middle School. “There’s nothing like a good barbecue.”
Fuentez oversees the Denair Summer Food Program, which feeds not only students during the summertime, but their families and friends, as well.

All are welcome.
This summer, the program serves an average of around 600 meals per day, every day. Whether it’s peanut butter and jelly or tri-tip sandwiches, there’s something for every appetite.
The program, which received a $25,000 boost from Turlock’s Legacy Health Foundation, will continue through July 25 — with a short break from June 30 to July 4 for the Fourth of July holiday — for breakfast (7:30 to 9 a.m. at Denair Middle School), lunch (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at DMS), and supper (4 to 6 p.m. at DHS).
Some take part in the program because groceries are expensive, and putting nutritious meals on the table is difficult these days. Others take part because it’s simply a way to enjoy a meal outdoors, in pleasant weather.
“I’m actually on the Turlock Mom’s group on Facebook and somebody had posted about the program,” said Imajine Vieira, the mother of 5-year-old Joao and 3-year-old Imilliana. “I’m just looking for ways to get the kids out of the house, keep them busy, and get them out into the sunlight.”
Vieira, who resides in Turlock, said that her kids are more likely to try new foods when they’re outside of their home.

Edgar and Karina Palominos of Turlock, and Marina Garibaldi of Waterford, all brought their kids to enjoy lunch on Friday.
“We have a program like this in Waterford,” said Garibaldi. “But here, the adults are able to eat, too.”
Garibaldi’s daughter, 4-year-old Gianna, enjoyed her hamburger lunch, but said she likes hot dogs better. Paulina Palominos, 7, and 6-year-old sister Ximena, also enjoyed their hamburgers — though Paulina found it a bit difficult to eat since she’s missing her two front teeth. Her smile, however, didn’t suffer one bit.
“The majority of the people we feed are associated with the school,” said Fuentez, who has a food service background as a cook in the U.S. Marine Corps. “In the summer, we feed kids. And in the past, Mom or Dad or Grandma had to pay for their meal. But this year, because of the grant provided by Legacy Health, the adult meals are covered.”
Candida Baldwin, a member of the food service team at DUSD, got her start in the industry catering minor league baseball games at Modesto’s John Thurman Field.
“It’s nice this year to be able to see the parents coming in,” said Baldwin. “I wish we could feed even more.”