OXFORD HILLS/MECHANIC FALLS — RSU 16’s Food Service Department and St. Joseph’s College provide free meals to children and teens age 18 and under during the summer through the Summer Food Service Program, also known as Summer Meals.

Families are encouraged to come to the kickoff events to learn more about the program in their area and to enjoy some fun. All Oxford Hills region sites will have a celebratory luau with festive foods and prizes, and the Androscoggin sites will have a fun-filled day with a pancake breakfast, barbecue, bouncy house, face paint, games and prizes.

Kick-off events will be held at the regular meal times.

The kick off in South Paris will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Moore Park.

The West Paris event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at West Paris Explorers Day Camp.

Norway’s event will take place downtown from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, July 1.

Two events were held in Oxford on June 25.

Androscoggin County Summer Meals Kick-off Event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, June 28, at the Elm Street School in Mechanic Falls. A pancake breakfast will be served from 8 to 9 a.m. and a barbecue will be served from 11 a.m. to noon.

There is no cost to attend any of these events. Parents have the option of purchasing the pancake breakfast and barbecue at the Elm Street Site; kids and teens eat free.

For more information contact Betty Hayes at 776-3549.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with local organizations to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer. The local Summer Food Service Program is supported by the Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative and many generous community volunteers.

Any child or teen age 18 and under may come and eat at any of these sites throughout the summer.

In addition to the sites housing kick-off events there are also the following summer meal sites available:

Poland: Tripp Lake Beach from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Harrison: The Food Booth at Crystal Lake Park from noon to 1 p.m.

Otisfield: Town Beach from noon to 1 p.m. starting July 22.

Lunch is provided at all sites Monday through Friday. Most sites opened on June 24 and will remain open throughout August. No meals will be served on July 4. For more information visit www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer.