Q. Hopefully the Summer Food Program is going on again this summer. Is it?

A: Yes, it is! During these rough economic times, we certainly hope that everyone knows about the Summer Food Program. This will be the 13th year that the Summer Food Program has been offered in Lawrence, yet so many people still don’t seem to know about it.

Free meals are available to all youths up to through 18 years old. (An adult must accompany anyone under the age of 4.) Any adult may also purchase lunch for $3 and breakfast for $1.65.

What is so hard for people to understand is that anyone who meets the aforementioned age requirements can walk in and get a free meal. The only requirement is that they must eat the food onsite.

No, participants do not have to qualify for the reduced or free lunch school program in order to eat. No, they do not need to be participating in a program at the sites in order to come. No, there is no paperwork, no registration, no proof of citizenship, no proof of income and no proof of age.

The Summer Food Program will be offered Monday through Friday at the locations listed below, except for Edgewood, where it will be closed Fridays. Also note that breakfast is served only at the East Lawrence Recreation Center and Pinckney School.

East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St.

8:15 a.m.-8:45 a.m. and noon-1 p.m. June 1-Aug. 7.

South Park Recreation Center, 1141 Mass.

June 1- Aug. 7 (excluding July 3), noon-1 p.m.

Pinckney School, 810 W Sixth St.

7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., June 1-July 30

Edgewood, 1600 Haskell Ave.

Noon-1 p.m. Monday-Thursday, June 1-July 30

Broken Arrow Park, 29th and Louisiana streets

Noon-1 p.m., June 1 – Aug. 7

Q: Who sponsors the Summer Food Program?

A: The Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers the Summer Food Program at the federal level. The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)-Child Nutrition and Wellness administers the program at the state level.

Locally, the Summer Food Program is sponsored by a community coalition, including the Lawrence Public Schools Food Service Department, K-State Research & Extension-Douglas County, Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation, Douglas County ECKAN and Lawrence Housing Authority Resident Services.

If you have additional questions about the Summer Food Program, just call me at 843-7058 or e-mail skrumm@ksu.edu.