Summer Food Program starts today

It may be hard to believe, but there are many children in Stephens and surrounding counties who don’t get enough to eat during the summer months.

That’s why today the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is kicking off its summer program offering free meals to children 18 and under across Georgia.

It’s called, “Bright from the Start” and it provides access to free meals in low-income areas during the summer months when students are out of school and may not have access to well-balanced meals throughout the day.

Here in Toccoa-Stephens County, there are approximately 10 locations where children can get meals every day during the summer.

They include, Camp Toccoa, Falls Park, the Tree House, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Stephens County Middle School, Stephens Drive, the Pines, the Doyle Street Hut, Wood St. Camden Court and the Doyle Street Pool.

Shani Drake is the Marketing and Outreach Manager for DECAL’s Nutrition Services.

Drake said parents can go online to www.decal.ga.gov/nutrition to find the meal program closest to them or to the USDA’s federal site.

Additionally, food sites can be located by calling 1-855- 550-SFSP (7377) or by texting “FOODGA” to 877-877.

In Franklin County some 11 sites will be open this summer and in Hart County there will also be 10 sites.

All of the free meals programs in Franklin and Hart counties are being administered by Step of Faith ministries.

Over 60 percent of Georgia’s school-aged children are eligible for free or reduced lunch when school is in session.