The United Families of America Arkansas is providing free summer meals for children 18 and younger at various sites in the area.
The service is much-needed, officials said.
"The importance of the summer feeding program is to ensure the kids get proper nutrition while they're out of school," said Jennifer London, UFAA program director. "The sole mission for us it to bridge the gap that's left when kids aren't getting breakfast and lunch at school."
A few of the sites have already opened for the summer, and the rest open Monday.
"Both the parents and the kids have been very grateful and thankful. It's been a little bit overwhelming. Yesterday, we had more kids than we'd prepared for, and we had to go back in the kitchen to regroup. You can definitely see there's a need," London said.
Meals are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Breakfast is served from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and lunch is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Dates and places for the Arkansas program are:
- Monday through Thursday, June 11-Aug. 9 at Bradley City Hall Community Center, 410 Pullman St., Bradley
- Monday through Friday through Aug. 10 at Chapel Ridge Apartments, 4717 County Ave., Texarkana
- Monday through Thursday through Aug. 9 at Sandflat Community Center, 209 E. 14th St., Texarkana
- Monday through Thursday, June 11-Aug. 9 at Vera Bradfield Park, 615 Euclid St., Texarkana
- Monday through Friday through Aug. 10 at Village Park South, 223 East St., Texarkana
- Monday through Friday, June 11-Aug. 10 at WT Daniels Development Center, 223 E. Short 10th St., Texarkana
Anyone who would like to volunteer is asked to call 870-330-0464.
"We need volunteers and donations," London said. "Many of the children are what I'd consider latchkey kids (children who have no adult supervision part of the day). For roughly about four hours every day, we're interacting with kids. It's almost like a safe haven. We provide some brief activities like jumping rope, Frisbee and puzzles."