OLD TOWN – All through the school year students are provided with the opportunity to eat both breakfast and lunch at school. When summer comes along it brings with it a large span of time during which those regular meals are not readily available for some students.

This summer there has been an increased amount of interest in providing Summer Food Service locally. Staff, organizations and individuals began making inquiries this spring and all were expressing interest in the program.

RSU 34 officials checked and found that they would be able to provide Summer Food Service to all children 18 and under at no charge. Old Town Housing Authority will be providing transportation of meals to the sites. That help, combined with a reimbursement rate that is higher in the summer than during the regular school year, should allow the program to run efficiently.

The program is administered at the national level by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and at the state level by Maine Child Nutrition Services. Locally, RSU 34 will partner with several organizations in the community to administer the program at Old Town – Orono YMCA, Old Town Recreation, Meadow Lane Neighborhood and Anderson Lane Neighborhood. All children are welcome to attend.

The meals provided will be less elaborate than meals made during the school year. However, they will still be nutritious and well balanced meals that meet the Federal Nutritional Guidelines. Some of the sites will offer breakfast and lunch, others will offer just lunch or a snack and lunch.

Meals will be provided to all children age 18 and under free of charge for 30 minutes at the sites and times as follows: Old Town High School – breakfast 8 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.; Old Town Elementary School – breakfast 8 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.; Old Town-Orono YMCA – snack 9 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m.; Old Town Recreation Department – breakfast 7 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m.; Old Town Housing Authority (Meadow Lane) – lunch 11 a.m.; Old Town Housing Authority (Anderson Lane) – lunch 11:45 a.m.

The lunch menu will be as follows: Monday, July 8, 22, and Aug. 5- Turkey, ham and cheese sandwich; Tuesday, July 9, 23 and Aug. 6 – Egg salad pocket sandwich; Wednesday, July 10, 24 and Aug. 7 – Italian sandwich; Thursday, July 11, 25 and Aug. 8 – Potato salad with ham roll-up; Friday, July 12, 26 and Aug. 9 – tuna salad roll; Monday, July 15, 29 and Aug. 12 – chicken salad wrap; Tuesday, July 16, 30 and Aug. 13 – Sunbutter and jelly; Wednesday, July 17, 31 and Aug. 14 – taco salad; Thursday, July 18, Aug. 1 and 15 – Dagwood multigrain roll; Friday, July 19, Aug. 2 and 16 – turkey salad wrap. All lunches are served with fruit, vegetable and milk. Breakfast choices will be cereal, milk, fruit or fruit juice, and cheese sticks. Students must take at least three of the four items offered; all menus are subject to change.

For more information call Stephanie Salley, Food Service Director, at 827-3908.