Many children throughout the region struggle when it comes to nutritional meals during the summer school break. Area schools are tackling the issue head on this summer by providing a variety of summer-meal programs.

“We’re really excited about our summer feeding program this year. Currently we have 31 sites,” said Pike County Schools Food Services Director Lisa Hess.

She added that along with the 31 sites, her office has also teamed up with churches and other community programs to be able to cover areas across the geographic boundaries of the county. Hess said that although there may be an occasional sandwich meal thrown into the batch, most of the food that her office serves children are hot nutritious meals.

Johnson County officials are in the second year of a new delivery service that’s been added to the program.

Johnson County Schools Director of Nutrition Services Marsha Coleman said the delivery service is focused in on areas that her office deems “high priority.” Like Pike County, the Johnson County service is available to any child or teenager 18 years or younger.

“It doesn’t matter about school enrollment or where the child is from. It’s just any child. A child from China could come as far as that goes and get a free meal, as long as they’re a child,” said Coleman.

She added aside from the delivery service, meals can be picked up at Johnson Central High School, Flat Gap Elementary, Porter Elementary and W. R. Castle Elementary. Floyd County Schools offer the delivery service as Johnson County. The only day without service will be July 4.

For more information about the summer meal programs, visit your school district’s website, or text the code “SUMMER MEALS” to 97779.