With a view to ensure that children across the State get access to a good nutritious meal, the US Department of Agriculture urged Minnesota schools to join in and devise programs to provide the kids with free meals, from this Wednesday onwards.

The USDA-funded program would give free lunches to anyone of the age of 18 years or less, from today through July 24 on the weekdays, excluding July 3 owing to the holiday weekend.

First in line to join the USDA in its noble effort are the Willmar Community Education and Recreation, Willmar Area Food Shelf and Willmar Public Schools. Willmar schools will be providing the kids with free breakfast and lunch at its three locations, namely Roosevelt Elementary School, Willmar Middle School and Area Learning Center, Monday through Thursday starting June 3.

Next, the Hutchinson Public School district would be continuing with its summer meals program at its usual sites across town but is adding one additional brown bag location at Avenue A Splash Park. The reason for including a park in its program can be attributed to the frequency of kids visiting the park during lunch hours.

Last but not the least, the Salvation Army of Kandiyohi County will also be providing meals for children, in collaboration with the United Way Growmobile, starting June 8 up to August 21.

The USDA through this program wishes to reach every hungry kid. The program does not even require any identification or paperwork to include a kid under its ambit.