ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Some children who qualify for free or reduced cost lunches at school also get free meals during the summer.
The federal government is trying to make sure more of the low income children who qualify - close to 18 million - also get meals during the summer.
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The USDA's Food and Nutrition Services Program said it will reimburse community groups that feed children who qualify for free lunch during school. The program said it needs more churches, recreation centers and libraries to step up and organize summer meal programs as well as volunteers to help those organizations.
The USDA said it is trying to make the program popular with community groups and more attractive to parents and kids.
The program served 187 million meals in 2014. Its goal is to serve 200 million meals in 2015. To look up summer food programs for kids in your area, visithttp://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks or call: 1-866-3-HUNGRY.
If you or someone you know are interested in starting a program, more information may be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program-sfsp.