Brookhaven School District’s Child Nutrition Office is working to make sure local children have two healthy meals a day this summer.

In conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Education, the district is currently providing free meals for children 18 years old and younger.

The goal of the program is to provide healthy meals for the children in the community, according to Tonya Thomas-McSweyn, child nutrition director.

The meals include breakfast at Lipsey School from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. and lunch at Mamie Martin Elementary School and Lipsey from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

“It is important to try to offer hot lunch and hot breakfast to those who might not be able to have one,” Thomas-McSweyn said. “That’s something we’ve always liked to offer the community.”

On average, the Brookhaven School District averages about 200 students per day during this summer program. The program ends June 28.

The Mississippi Department of Education Office of Child Nutrition helps serve more than 150 feeding sites throughout the state.

“Good nutrition through the summer is essential for a growing child,” Scott Clements, director of MDE’s Office of Healthy Schools and Child Nutrition, said in a press release.

“The Office of Child Nutrition is focused on curbing food insecurities by helping to decrease hunger throughout the state of Mississippi. The Summer Food Service Program is just one of many ways OCN is working to ensure that children are fit, healthy and ready to succeed.”