50-Plus Locations Offer Free Summer Lunches For Kids

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County parents worried about making sure their children have healthy – and affordable – lunches throughout the summer can breathe a sigh of relief.

The county has announced its participation in the Summer Food Service Program. The program provides free lunches and afternoon snacks at more than 50 sites across the county. The free food service kicks off June 13 and runs through Aug. 3.

The Summer Food Service program is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture. Children do not have to register for lunches and snacks, nor do they have to be enrolled in county programs to receive meals, the county said in a media release.

The only requirement for getting a meal is showing up and being under the age of 18, the county said.

The sites selected for the program are in “areas where 50 percent or more of the children qualify for free or reduced price meals during the school year,” the county said in explaining how program locations were selected.

Meal sites are typically located at county parks, but that is not always the case. To find a meal site location or for more program specifics, visit the county online.

Image via Shutterstock/Map from the Hillsborough County website