Children in Santa Barbara County are being provided free meals this summer at various sites throughout the county.
Santa Barbara Unified School District Food Services Free Summer Food Program kicked of Monday in partnership with No Kid Hungry.
Officials say thousands of children 18-years-old and younger who are "food insecure" in the county and rely on free and reduced meals during the school year end up going without meals during the summer months.
"Hunger never takes a vacation and neither does our Food Service team," said Food Service Director Nancy Weiss. "Our delicious meals are provided free without any paperwork in the hope that we can help take the worry out of knowing where a child’s next healthy meal will come from."
The program is having a free, family-friendly kick-off celebration Thursday at Oak Park in Santa Barbara. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., there will be healthy meals, music and more for people to enjoy.
To find out where summer food program meal locations are, text "SUMMERFOOD" to 877-877.
The program began in 1976. Meals are provided for just $4 for those who are over the age of 18.
For information on meals available this summer to students in San Luis Obispo County, click here.
