WHEELING – Ohio County Schools will offer free lunches – and in some locations free breakfast – to youths this summer as part of its annual summer child nutrition program.

Free meals will be served Monday through Friday to all children ages 2-18. Food must be eaten on site, and no adult meals will be available.

Youths participating are not required to be students of Ohio County Schools, as the program is open to all children regardless of where they live or go to school.

“We just hope that families and kids take advantage of this program,” said Renee Griffin, nutrition director for the school district. “We know that hunger doesn’t take a vacation, and we want them to come out and participate and enjoy the rest of their summer.”

Ohio County Schools offers the program each year through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It isn’t for a specific dollar amount, but the school district is reimbursed an amount based on the number of meals served.

On average, the school district serves 1,000 meals a day during its summer meal program, according to Renee Griffin, nutrition director for the school district.

“We get reimbursed based on participation,” she explained. “So however many children eat, we get federal reimbursement for each meal that we serve….

“So many students participate in our free meals during the school year, and we just want them to come out and participate in the free meals during the summer. We’re excited to continue this program, and hopefully we will see more kids come out and participate.”

Locations, dates and times for the free meals are as follows:

– Chambers YMCA: June 15-July 24. Breakfast will be served from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m., and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

– Oglebay Park Wagon Shed Shelter: June 15-July 24. Food will be served from 11:30 a.m. until noon.

– Hil Dar Exley Center: Lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

– Warwood Elementary School: June 15-July 24. Youths may come for lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

– Wheeling Park High School Extended School Year: June 10-June 26. Breakfast will be provided between 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., with lunch available from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.

– Madison Elementary: June 15-July 24. Children may come for lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

– Ritchie Elementary Extended School Year: July 6-24. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m., and lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

– Salvation Army, 33rd Street: June 15-July 24. Lunch will be provided from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Griffin said the hot lunches to be provided at most of the locations are similar to those served during the school year. There will be such favorites as cheeseburgers, chicken tenders and calzones.

“Some sites don’t have the ability to have hot food, so we have to utilize different menus based on the health department’s guidance,” she continued. “We have some shelf-stable options new this year. We have to provide a certain amount of meat products, and a certain amount of grains so that it is a balanced nutritional meal.”