With children out of school for the summer and parents working during the day, the launch of the Summer Lunch Program is once again underway.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture partners in Effingham County as well as all throughout the country to serve free meals until the completion of the program in July.

There are no income requirements and any child under the age of 18 may come to eat.

In a letter sent to parents by School Nutrition Coordinator Jessica O’Leary, the following list of rules applies.

In accordance with the program, the meals must be consumed on-site as no part of the meal may be taken away from the feeding site. Supervision will be provided during the on-site meal times, but it is the responsibility of the parent and child to ensure that children are on their best behavior while at the feeding site.

Once the meal service has concluded, children without a parent, guardian or older sibling with them will be encouraged to return home.

If problems arise at the feeding site due to misbehavior or otherwise, then the site will be closed for the duration of the summer feeding program, potentially impacting other children in the area.

Children who wish to receive a meal are encouraged to arrive to the location within 15 minutes of the closing of the site so that they have enough time to complete their meal. Once the site ending time has expired, no child is allowed to be served after that time.

In Effingham County, there are 11 locations where lunch is provided as part of the program. The following are the locations with the available times and dates for lunch:

Pilgrim Missionary Baptist

Breakfast: 9-9:30, Lunch: 11:45-12:45

(June 5-15 only)

Library of Springfield

Lunch: 11:30-12:30

Mon.-Thurs., June 5-July 13

Guyton Civic Center

Lunch: 11:45-12:45

June 19-July 14 only

South Effingham High

Lunch: 10:45-12:45

June 5-July 14

Playground at Rincon Library

Lunch: 12-12:45

June 5-July 14

Blandford Elementary

Breakfast: 8:30-9:30, Lunch 11-12

June 5-July 14

Peter Giles Park

Lunch: 11-11:45

June 5-July 14

Effingham County High

Breakfast: 8:30-9:30, Lunch: 11:15-12:30

June 5-July 14

Effingham County Middle

Breakfast: 8:30-9:30, Lunch: 11:30-12:30

June 5-July 14

Macomber Ball Park

Lunch: 11:30-12:15

June 5-July 14

YMCA

Breakfast: 8-9, Lunch 11-12:15

June 5-July 14

No meals will be served on July 3 or 4.

For more information, contact (912) 754-6416, (912) 754-5632 or (912) 754-5633.