The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) School Nutrition Program announced recently the availability of free meals to children during summer break.
Through the federally funded program, Seamless Summer Option, any child under the age of 18 may receive a free meal at any preapproved location throughout the state.
There is no income qualification or registration requirement to receive this benefit.
Decatur County Schools Nutrition Director Debbie Purcell said Decatur County Schools will again be participating as they have for several years.
“We are still working on the details, as far as dates and times,” said Purcell, but she confirmed that the locations will be lunch at Bainbridge High School, breakfast and lunch at Bainbridge Middle School and they will satellite lunches to the Friendship House. “You do not need to be enrolled at Friendship House to eat, but you do to participate in their programs,” she added.
Decatur County Nutrition programs also will feed the migrant school program, which does require enrollment to qualify. That program will meet at the Decatur County School Support Center, formerly West Bainbridge Elementary School on Martin Street.
During the academic year, Georgia schools serve more than half a million breakfasts and approximately 1.1 million lunches daily. More than 77 percent of these meals are provided at a free or reduced price through the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program.