By Fallan PattersonStaff Writer

Osceola County School District staff expect to see an increasing number of children who will participate in the annual summer feeding program that provides free meals to hungry children.

The district offers free breakfast, lunch or afternoon snack during the summer at more than 80 locations around Osceola County.

Last year, the Summer Food Service Program served 82,671 breakfasts, 135,731 lunches and 25,581 afternoon snacks, according to data provided by Karen Fry, field supervisor of Campus Grille, the School District’s food service department.

Using this data as a starting point, the district Monday will prepare meals at four schools that will then be packed in insulated coolers and delivered daily to the various locations via truck.

“We’re changing the numbers all the time,” Fry said. “Because of the economy, we do expect to see an increase (in participation).”

The district is offering seven sites around the county open to any child age 18 or younger who wants a meal from June 18 to Aug. 10.

More than 70 other sites in the county will offer the meals to children enrolled in their summer program.

Feeding site coordinators chose two of the three options for the children they serve: breakfast, lunch or snack.

The Summer Food Service Program is available to school districts comprised of a more than 50 percent free-and-reduced lunch student population. More than 71 percent of students in the Osceola County School District are on the lunch program, according to the School district.

Children do not have to be enrolled in the free-or-reduced lunch program to participate in the Summer Food Service Program.

Since its inception in 2001, the program in Osceola County, funded by the Florida Department of Education’s federal reimbursement program, has seen the need more than double.

In 2001, the program served 47,000 breakfasts and 85,000 lunches at 34 sites around Osceola County, according to the figures provided by the School District. In 2009, summer feeding sites swelled to 101 and the district served 102,687 breakfasts and 180,000 lunches that year.

In 11 years, the Summer Food Service Program, previously called the Summer Feeding Program, has served 2.1 million meals to 1.1 million children, according to the district.

“We are probably the largest food service (provider) in Osceola County,” Rae Hollenbeck, the director of Campus Grille said. Locations

The following locations are open to any child age 18 or younger seeking a meal during the summer:

• Poinciana Parks and Recreation

395 S. Marigold Ave., Kissimmee

Breakfast: 9 to 9:30 a.m.

Lunch: noon to 12:30 p.m.

• Oak Street Park Community Center

717 N. Palm Ave., Kissimmee

Lunch: noon to 1 p.m.

Afternoon snack: 3 to 3:30 p.m.

• Poinciana Academy of Fine Arts

4201 Rhododendron Ave., Kissimmee

Breakfast: 8 to 8:30 a.m.

Lunch: 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

• New Hope Center

513 Barn St., Kissimmee

Breakfast : 8 to 9 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• New Beginnings

2599 W. Vine St., Kissimmee

Breakfast: 8 to 8:30 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to noon

• Neptune Middle School

2727 Neptune Road, Kissimmee

Breakfast: 9 to 9:30 a.m.

Lunch: noon to 12:30 p.m.

• Gateway High School

93 Panther Paws Trail, Kissimmee

Breakfast: 7 to 8 a.m.

Lunch: 11 a.m. to noon