FLORENCE, Wis. — Stressing the importance of offering nutritious meals to children during the summer months, the School District of Florence County announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program.

These locations will serve free meals this summer through Thursday, July 18. They are closed the week of July 1-5 —

— Florence Elementary School, 5844 Bill Anderson Drive, Florence: Mondays and Wednesdays, breakfast 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.; and lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. An exception is this Tuesday.

— Northeast Wisconsin Technical College-Aurora, 2030 Calvary Drive, Aurora: Tuesdays and Thursdays, breakfast 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Only breakfast will be served this Tuesday at NWTC.

The Summer Food Service Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, provides nutritious meals to children during the summer, when free and reduced-price school meals are typically unavailable. Free meals will be made available to ages 18 years of age and younger. Those older than 18 years of age who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who also participate in a public or private non-profit school program during the regular school year may receive free meals as well.

Meals are provided to eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability and there will be no discrimination in the course of meal service.

“This program fills a void created when school lunches are not available,” said Holly Krueger, Florence Elementary administrative assistant. “Helping parents meet the nutritional needs of their children is the strength of this program.”

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture civil rights regulations and policies; the USDA; its agencies, offices and employees; and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.