HENRY COUNTY – A Southside summer feeding program is expanding.
Henry County Public Schools now has cookout sites along with its regular sites.
Last year, the school district started taking school meals to neighborhoods where lots of students on the free and reduced-price lunch program live.
The district realized that many of those kids were unable to get to the schools or other community sites to get the meals.
In an effort to build on last year's success, the district has added cookout sites.
At these sites, regular school meals are still served, but hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken are also grilled on-site.
The expansion was made possible thanks to a grant.
For about $3, adults can also get a school meal or a grilled meal.
Proceeds will be used to help fund the program.
"Families were very positive last summer and very excited to know that food was being supplied for their children," said HCPS communication director Monica Adams Hatchett.
"But additionally, we noticed that a lot of adults also participated and enjoyed the hot lunches that are served from our cafeterias, which we think also helped promote school lunch during the school year," Hatchett continued.
The Jack Dalton Park, Smith Memorial United Methodist Church, Bassett, Collinsville, Martinsville, and Ridgeway Library meal sites are open to the public.
For more sites, or for more information about the program, contact Henry County Public Schools.