The summer food program that allows children 18 and under to eat for free starts June 1. It ends June 26.

Sponsored by the Brookhaven School District, the Summer Food Service Program is a community service which provides free meals to any child 18 years old and younger. Child Nutrition Director Tonya McSweyn said last summer they served over 7,000 lunches and over 3,000 breakfasts.

“We hope to increase the number of students we serve this summer,” said McSweyn.

The Summer Food Service Program ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. This summer, USDA plans to serve more than 200 million free meals to children at approved SFSP sites.

Parents do not get to eat for free but are encouraged to come and sit with their children while they eat their meal.

“The child doesn’t have to be a student of Brookhaven Schools in order to come eat the meals: just has to be 18 years old or younger,” said McSweyn.

The Brookhaven School District has been operating the Summer Food Service Program for over 30 years.

“Our favorite thing about operating the program is being able to provide hot breakfast and lunch to children that may otherwise not have a hot meal option,” McSweyn said.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Mamie Martin and Lipsey schools.

Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Mamie Martin, Lipsey and Mullins school.

For breakfast and lunch menus, go to www.olebrookcafe.org and click on “Summer Meal Program.”