No child should have to go hungry during summer vacation, and the South Kitsap FREE Summer Meal Program will seek to fill that gap for local families once again.

The South Kitsap School District announced the program will return June 24 with meals to be distributed at various schools. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure children 18 and younger retain an important source of nutrients after school is out.

“The South Kitsap FREE Summer Meal Program is a fantastic initiative to support the well-being and nutrition of our children during the summer break,” the district says.

While the summer vacation can be a scary time for some families that rely on school meals for youth, the program provides multiple means to get those essential nutrients at no cost. Hot lunches will be available every Monday through Thursday at East Port Orchard Elementary from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and at Marcus Whitman Middle School from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Marcus Whitman will stop service on meals after July 18, while East Port Orchard will continue to distribute meals until Aug 8.

Grab-and-go sack lunch options will be available at Discovery High School from 11:30 a.m. to noon every Monday through Thursday until July 18. They will also be served at the Port Orchard Waterfront Gazebo and Spin Park from noon to 12:15 p.m. every Wednesday from July 10 to Aug 14.

Multi-day meal packs are also being made available via pre-order for families seeking a more convenient option. The packs include seven days worth of breakfast and lunch, fresh fruits and vegetables and a gallon of milk for each child. Order forms are available online at the district’s website. Pickups run from noon to 12:45 p.m. every Tuesday between June 25 and Aug 6 at Burley Glenwood Elementary School.