The SUN Program, an initiative formed by the Kentucky Department of Education and the USDA, works to provide free meals for children 18 and under throughout Kentucky. This effort provides free food for students when school is out for summer break.
Jan Anderson, School Nutrition Director for Fleming County Public Schools, said the meal sites in her district will provide a week’s worth of free breakfast and lunch to about 600 kids every week from May 29 to July 17.
“No matter how hard it is to get together, in my mind I’m thinking this is for the kids, this is for the kids,” said Anderson. “Once you get it all planned out, it’s the planning that’s hard, now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ll start feeding May the 29th and our plans and procedures will go seamless.”
She added this also gives students a chance to socialize during the summer months when they may not have the chance otherwise.
“We’re just happy that we’re able to feed the kids and there are kids that depend on these meals. I know that when we didn’t do it for a year or two, the kids were upset because they like the interaction of coming and being part of something,” said Anderson
The SUN Program operates over 2,000 sites across the state and offers locations for children to eat meals with their peers or take frozen and shelf-stable meals home.
There are five sites in Rowan County, eight in Menifee County, five in Carter County, and three in Elliott County, among others. More information on how to find Summer Meals sites can be found on the KDE website.