HOPE — The free meals program operated by the Hope Public Schools for children under age 18 will continue the two-meal package distributions through the scheduled close of the school year.

Cortney Nutt, K-12 Food Services Director for Aramark Food Services announced the planned extension April 23.

“We are not going to be making any changes to the procedures we have in place now,” Nutt said. “We will run this way through May 22.”

She said the program has distributed 23,022 two-meal packets to date. 

Meals are distributed by bus on Mondays and Wednesdays. The packets provide a lunch for the day of distribution and breakfast for the following morning. 

Distribution sites and times include:

Bus 1 — Fulton City Park, 11 a.m.; Hope In Action, 11:35-11:50 a.m.; Caney Creek Estates office, 11:55 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.; Mockingbird Circle, 12:20 - 12:35 p.m.; Hope Fair Park, 12:40-1 p.m.

Bus 2 — Patmos Fire Station, 11 a.m.; Yerger Middle School, 11:45 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.; Yerger Terrace, 12:10-12:25 p.m.; Peaks Apartments, 12:30-12:40 p.m.; South View Apartments, 12:45-1 p.m.

Bus 3 — Hope Amandex Apartments, 11 a.m.; Calvary Baptist Church, 11:25-11:40 a.m.; Rising Star Baptist Church, 11:55 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.; Life House Church, 12:15-12:35 p.m.

The meals are provided free of cost to any child under age 18 living in Hope and Hempstead County; but, children must be present at the distribution site to receive meals, Nutt said.

After May 22, the program will be suspended for a week; but, the traditional summer meals program provided by the HPS will begin thereafter, Nutt said.