KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Warsaw Community Schools is offering free summer meals to children ages 1 to 18 Monday through Friday at two area parks. Free lunches will take place at Winona Lake Park and Center Lake Park (Bixler pavilion area) in Warsaw.

The meals will only be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and must be consumed at the serving site. Only one fruit or vegetable may be taken from the site. Meals are provided free of charge and are for children only, though parents may purchase a meal separately.

The summer lunches began June 5 and continue until June 30 and then again July 10-28.

“During the school year, many children receive free or reduced lunches and when school is out for summer break, the need for meals does not stop,” said Stacie Light, assistant director of food services Warsaw Community Schools. “WCS is just one avenue within the county to help provide meals to children. Having a public location at Warsaw’s Central Park and Winona Lake Park serves the need to feed many, while kids have fun with social engagement and physical activity.”

Ayden and Cadence Sauer enjoy a free lunch at a Center Lake Park in Warsaw. Serving lunch is Laura Arnett, left, and Ginger Walters of Warsaw Community Schools.

The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded, state-administered program established to ensure that children, ages 18 and younger, can access nutritious meals when school is out for summer break.

The school corporation must follow specific nutrition guidelines for meals. All meals served must meet the minimum USDA meal pattern requirements of milk, vegetables and fruit, grain/bread, meat/meat alternate or a protein source. For instance, the menu for Wednesday, June 28, is a peanut butter jelly sandwich, string cheese, strawberries and a fresh veggie mix with tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.

“For those kids who like to dip their veggies, a non-fat ranch dressing cup is also available,” Light said.

Stacie Anderson of Leesburg said she enjoys the free lunch for her three sons because they are wholesome and nutritious.

“It’s a good healthy lunch. We go to the YMCA, come here for lunch and go home and take naps,” she said. “It’s our routine.”

Anderson likes the fact that her sons get a fruit, a vegetable and milk.

Donna Sauer has two grandchildren, Ayden and Cadence, she brings to the park and she said she appreciates the free lunches.

“It’s a good activity, too, and they can get out and get a good lunch,” said Sauer, who frequents the Central Park location in Warsaw with her grandchildren.

Ginger Walters of WCS said, on average, about 120 to 170 children eat lunch a day. Walters helps serve the meals with other WCS employees.

Wawasee Schools also serves free summer lunches at all three of its elementary schools and Lakeside Park in Syracuse until July 28.