By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — All three of the River Parishes are providing free meals to parish youth Monday through Thursday throughout the summer.

The Summer Food Service Program, now in its 24th year, was created by the U.S. Department of Education to ensure children in lower-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer.

The programs, which started this week, will end July 10. Youth up to 17 years old eat free, and adults can pay to eat.

“A lot of children need to have access to nutritional meals throughout the summer months with school being out, and this program offers that,” Vivian Landry, consultant with St. James Parish Child Nutrition Programs, said.

The St. James Parish program will offer meals at Vacherie Elementary, 13440 Louisiana 644, and Lutcher High School, 1910 W. Main St.

The hours for breakfast, which Landry said are subject to change, are 7 – 8 a.m. for the Vacherie site and 7:15 – 8 a.m. for the Lutcher site. Lunch hours are 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. for the Vacherie site and 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for the Lutcher site.

For more information about the St. James Program or to verify hours, call the Lutcher site at 225-258-5306 or the Vacherie site at 225-258-5254.

St. John the Baptist Parish’s program will offer breakfast and lunch.

Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday-Thursdays at the following locations:

• Garyville/Mt. Airy Math & Science Magnet School – 240 Hwy 53, Mount Airy

• Leon Godchaux Alternative Program – 1880 Highway 44, Reserve

• New Wine Christian Fellowship Center – 1931 West Airline Hwy, LaPlace

Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

• Garyville/ Mt. Airy Math & Science Magnet School- 240 Hwy 53, Mount Airy

• Leon Godchaux Alternative Program – 1880 Highway 44, Reserve

• New Wine Christian Fellowship Center – 1931 West Airline Hwy, LaPlace

• West St. John Elementary- 2555 Hwy 18, Edgard

• LaPlace Elementary School- 393 Greenwood Dr., LaPlace

Children participating in the St. John the Baptist Parish Summer Camp will also participate in the SFSP. Free transportation is available; please call the Health and Human Services Department at 985-536-4955 for more information.

In St. Charles Parish, lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at St. Rose Elementary School, 230 Pirate Drive, Luling Elementary School, 904 Sugarhouse Road, and E.J. Landry Alternative School, 108 Tiger Circle in Hahnville.

Bus pickups will be available. For a complete listing of pickup locations, visit stcharlesparish-la.gov. For more information, call the St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services at 985-764-7944.