The Brunswick County School District estimates more than five-thousand of its students receive free or reduced meals during the school year, but when school is out during the summer, many of those kids are forced to go without. One program is trying to fill the void. Brunswick Family Assistance Executive Director, Joe Cannon says "In the summer, if they don't go to school they don't eat. That puts a burden on our families and also a burden on food pantries, so we decided to start this food program to feed children during the summer and alleviate that burden." Brunswick Family Assistance with the help of many volunteers are working to make sure no child goes hungry over the summer with the help of a new, free meal summer program. A federal grant is providing free meals to needy children at seven locations, many of them churches or community centers. Volunteer, Margaret Von Wald says she has seen the impact the program has made in her children's lives as well as the hundreds of other children to whom she serves meals. "Some kids would probably wake up and have no breakfast and lunch. There are a lot of kids in our school system who are really hungry during the summer because their families can't afford the food." Across the county, volunteer, Brenda Hewett feels much of the same sentiment. "It's been very important to have good, sound, nutritious meals provided, with loving people talking to them everyday and the comfort that they get when they come here." With prices on just about everything going up, Cannon says this meal program could not have come at a better time. Because the summer meal program has already shown to be successful, Brunswick Family Assistance plans to reapply for the grant again next and double the sites of service. Free Meal Locations: Boys & Girls Club 705 North Lord St. Southport, NC. 28461 Johnson Chapel AME Zion Church 1882 Lincoln Road Leland, NC 28451 Cardinal Pointe Community Center 42 Brooks Court Shallotte, NC 28470 Harvest Fellowship 438 Gray Bridge Road Shallotte, NC 28470 Mt. Zion Baptist Church 7730 Mt. Zion Church Road Longwood, NC 28452 Cedar Grove Baptist 1229 Cedar Grove Road Supply, NC. 28462 Call:910-754-4766 FOR MORE INFORMATION