FARMINGTON — Children scurried down High Street to Bjorn Park Monday noon for a hamburger and fries.
Meals are available for children and adults from noon to 12:20 p.m. at the W.G. Mallett School Monday through Thursday and at Bjorn Park on Mondays and Wednesdays. The meals are funded through the federal Summer Food Service Program.
Breakfast is also available at Mallett School from 9 to 9:20 a.m., Jodi Frost said as she worked in the kitchen Monday.
Food for lunches is prepared at the school but then members of Old South First Congregational Church bring the meals to Bjorn Park to give out, Chris Magri, co-chair of the Old South outreach committee, said.
The meals started last week, June 29, and continue on those days to July 30 at Bjorn Park, he said.
On the first day, ten children and six adults were given a lunch but then heavy rains Wednesday kept most away but one family came, he said.
The Old South members are already thinking ahead to next year with hopes of involving other churches so they can be at the park the four days a week, he said.
Some days it is a sandwich and fruit but Monday was a hot meal, he said. One that is offered to children and adults at no charge.
The only requirement is those partaking of the meal have to eat here, Frost said of meals either at Mallett or at the park.
A free breakfast is also available from 9 to 9:20 a.m. at Mallett School, she said.
A food pantry for families with children in any RSU 9 school, whether Farmington, New Sharon or Wilton, is offered once a month at Mallett School, normally the third Wednesday from 3:20 to 4:20 p.m.
Food is provided by the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn. They intend to provide food for two days a month this summer, Katie Hallman, organizer, said.
The food pantry was open July 8 and will be again on July 15, she said.
In August, the food pantry will be open Aug. 5 at the Mallett School and on August 19 at the American Legion as another event is planned at the school, Hallman said.
A similar summer lunch program was started last year in Wilton and continues this summer.
Meals for children 18 and under are offered at no charge from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 30 through Aug. 7, at Kineowatha Park. Adult meals are available for $3.
abryant@sunmediagroup.net
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