Free meals for county kids to continue

With school opening the last day of this month, the Alachua County Public Schools will continue offering free meals to all county children up to 18 years old beginning next week.

The food, prepared by the district’s food and nutrition services department, will provide breakfasts and lunches beginning Tuesday. The meals will continue every weekday through Aug. 26.

Students will receive multiple days’ worth of meals on some days to get them through the weekend, including the weekend before school starts on Aug. 31.

The meals will be distributed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 23 schools within the district. Students do not have to attend any particular school to pick up meals from any site.

When school begins, students at brick-and-mortar schools and at the Digital Academy will be provided with meals at 17 school sites. Families of Digital Academy students can pick up their food Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. They will be provided meals for school days.