PORT TOWNSEND — As summer gets underway, the Jefferson County YMCA is offering free meals and programs throughout the county.
“We are excited to be able to offer this program at six sites in order to provide nutrition during the summer months,” said Erica Delma, the organization’s director of development and community engagement.
“Without the free summer meals program, many children would go without adequate nutrition.”
The sites are located in Brinnon, Quilcene, Chimacum and Port Townsend. There are three locations in Port Townsend: Mountain View Commons, Grant Street Elementary School and Blue Heron Middle School.
Meals are being offered already at all sites except Brinnon, where the program starts later this month.
The meals are packed and prepared in the Chimacum School District kitchen by a team of volunteers then distributed to the respective sites.
“We appreciate our volunteers and donors,” Delma said. “Without the donors, we would not have been able to offer the expanded programs.”
The cost of the program is about $50,000, she said, with funding provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Meals program, a grant from YMCA of the USA, community donations and partnerships with local farms and the Food Co-op.
This year, the Y is partnering with all four Jefferson County school districts and the county and city libraries to provide comprehensive learning programs that are aimed to close the achievement gap.
Each site includes a summer literacy program or “Feed Your Brain” activities designed to maintain active learning during the summer months.
The sites, which will serve meals Mondays through Fridays, are:
■ Quilcene School, 294715 U.S. Highway 101, through Aug. 18 — Lunch served from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and snacks from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
■ Chimacum Elementary School multipurpose building, 91 West Valley Road, through Aug. 19 — Snacks served from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.
■ Mountain View Commons, 1925 Blaine St., Port Townsend, through Aug. 19 — Lunch served from noon to 12:30 p.m. and snacks from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
■ Blue Heron Middle, 3939 San Juan Ave., Port Townsend, through July 29 — Snacks served from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and lunch from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
■ Grant Street Elementary, 1637 Grant St., Port Townsend, through July 29 — Snacks served from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.
■ Brinnon School, 46 Schoolhouse Road, July 25 through Aug. 18 — Snacks served from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
For more information, call 360-385-5811 or go to www.jeffersoncountyymca.org.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.