FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Children in Florence County are able to get a treat during the summer months, thanks to a summer feeding program. Funding from the United States Department of Agriculture allows Florence School District One to provide free breakfast and lunch to all children. Daycare programs, summer camps, summer school programs and children within the community benefit from the access to two nutritious meals each summer.

Elizabeth Young, owner of Big Hugz Daycare brings her kids to the Southside Middle School location every day, “it’s a wonderful program. It’s really good because they enjoy it.”

“It’s a nutritious lunch for them and they enjoy getting out and coming and sitting at the table and communicating with each other. I enjoy it because they enjoy it,” Young says.

Florence School District one offers free breakfast and lunch to any child and makes sure no child is turned away. South Florence High School Teacher, Claire Smith said, “it provides the opportunity for kids who you know are in summer school or out for the summer to have a chance to get two nutritious meals every day.”

In comparison to last year, the program impacts about the same number of children. According to Florence School District One Food Services Director, Donnie Chavis says, “Right now we’re averaging about fourteen hundred lunch’s a day and about nine hundred breakfasts a morning.”

This program is an opportunity to ensure children are able to access food during the summer months. “Even in today’s society, there is so many so many kids do not have the opportunity to get a proper, well balanced meal. It’s very important that they have this opportunity to do that,” says Chavis.

The program runs until July 29th. To get involved with this program visit any of the listed locations in Florence.

Donnie Chavis says, “All you have to do is bring your children to one of our sites and just bring them in and eat.”

The locations include:

Alfred Rush Academy

Carver Elementary

Churchilll Community

Delmae Elementary Dewey Carter Academy

Lester Elementary

Lucy T. Davis

New Ebenezer Baptist Church

Palmetto Youth Academy

Southside Middle School

True Faith Fellowship Church

Wallace Gregg Elementary

West Florence High School

Williams Middle School

Wilson High School

Most locations are open Monday through Friday. Breakfast is from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Lunch is from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.