By GINNY COOPER / Staff Writer

The Shelby County Board of Education will host a “seamless summer feeding program” for children ages 18 and younger during the summer break.

The program is designed to help parents in areas where a “higher than average” percent of students receive free and reduced lunch during the school year “fill the gap” during the summer break, according to Child Nutrition Program Coordinator Nathan Hayes.

“We want to make sure students in communities that really depend on the program during the school year don’t do without a hot lunch in the summer,” Shelby County School District spokes woman Cindy Warner said.

The program will be offered at Calera Intermediate from May 27 – July 25, Montevallo Elementary from May 29 – July 25 and Vincent High from June 2 – July 25. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 – 8 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. – noon.

Shelby County Schools are expecting between 150 to 400 students to participate in the free lunch each day at the various locations.

The meal is free, but carryout meals are not available to students. The cost for an adult visitor breakfast will be $2 and the cost for an adult visitor lunch will be $4.

Though school is not in session, nutrition is still a priority and the feeding program will adhere to the same guidelines followed throughout the school year, which focus on whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables.

“We try to make it a healthy meal, but still include items a lot of kids like,” Hayes said.

The federal government reimburses the county for all meals served, which makes the program free for the county.

“We don’t lose money doing this,” Hayes said. “It just seems like the right thing to do for our kids and our communities.”

For more information, or to view menus for each day, visit Shelbyed.k12.al.us.