During the summer, when schools are out, children who usually get free or reduced-price school meals may not be getting the nutrition they need. To help make sure they are not going hungry, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals for those kids in communities across North Carolina.

Children do not need to register, and there is no fee.

Kids 18 and under can get the free meals at schools, local government agencies, private non-profits, parks, swimming pools, vacation Bible schools and low-income housing complexes that have been approved as SFSP sites. Participating organizations receive funds to provide meals to complement the recreational and educational programs that they already offer.

"Children need to get good healthy meals throughout the summer so they can continue to grow, play and learn even when they don't have access to regular school lunches and breakfasts," said Cynthia Ervin, coordinator of the SFSP in North Carolina. "We know that children from low-income families will be hungry when their schools are closed, especially during these difficult economic times," she said. "During those long summer months, the Summer Food Service Program serves what may too often be the only nutritious meal of the day for some children."

For an up-to-date list of Summer Food Service Program sites and for more information, visit the N.C. Nutrition Services web site at www.nutritionnc.com or call the N.C. CARE-LINE at 1-800-662-7030 (TTY: 1-877-452-2514). The list is updated every Monday. To date, there are more than 250 sites in 30 counties on the list, but more are being added as new sites sign up and are approved.

The Summer Food Service Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.