Jeff Swartz, child nutrition director for Clinton City Schools, speaks to students at L.C. Kerr School about plants. Swartz and other school officials are working on the summer feeding program.

Clinton City Schools officials are looking forward to another summer of providing nutritious meals to help students in low-income families.

Meals will distributed June 15 through Aug. 13 Monday through Thursday at Sunset Avenue School. Breakfast will be provided from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Jeff Swartz, child nutrition director for the local school system, said the federal program is designed to help needy families and to give them the opportunity to receive a meal when school is not in session. Meals will be distributed to different closed sites throughout the school district area.

Swartz indicated that the great thing about the summer program is that it helps students who may need assistance when it comes to buying meals during the school year.

“It gives the parents the opportunity to make sure their children are getting nutritious meals during the summer as well,” he said. “If they’re on free or reduced lunch, they need assistance during the summertime because the kids are out of school all day.”

School officials are also working to provide remote locations, the purpose of which being to serve students who are unable to travel to Sunset Avenue for meals.

“We’re trying to reach the children that need the meals most, but they can’t get to our food site,” Swartz said.

For the upcoming summer, Swartz said the district will deliver meals to a trailer park on N.C. 403, across from Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Meals will be served from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

“Children who live in that area can come and have lunch on the bus,” Swartz said about providing an air-conditioned place to eat.

If it’s successful, Swartz said the Child Nutrition program may expand to other locations throughout Clinton by the middle or end of June.

“We’re going to try to see if it’s successful to see if it’s feasible for us to do that,” Swartz said, noting the cost associated with travel and other logistics.

The program is available for children and teenagers up to 18 years old. Reimbursement is based on the number of years served. Each year, the district expects to serve hundreds of students.

For more information or other needs located to the program, contact Jeff Swartz at 910-592-3132, ext. 1107.