DECATUR — A summer lunch program for children under 18 opened in Decatur and Hiwasse on Monday.

The program provides free lunches to all children under 18 to help make sure they get nutritious meals throughout the summer when school is out.

All children, whether or not they go to school in the community or qualify for free and reduced lunches at school, are welcome to participate in the free lunch program, according to Margo Barnes, child nutrition director for the Decatur School District. Lunch is also available to adults for $3.

The Decatur, Hiwasse and Sulphur Springs summer lunch programs are joint operations with theGravette School District’s summer lunch program, according to Jason Carter, child nutrition director for the Gravette School District.

Food is prepared at the Gravette school and transported to the other locations. The Gravette School District provided a free lunch program in Sulphur Springs last year because it’s a part of the district with a high poverty rate, but this is the first year to expand the program to Decatur and Hiwasse, Carter said.

Carter applied for and received a grant from the Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry Campaign that covers the cost of catering equipment, labor and transportation.

The grant provided a good way to get started in Decatur without any risk to the Decatur or Gravette school districts, Carter said.

“Hopefully, we will be able to start small and last for a while,” he said.

Barnes said, with more than 80 percent of Decatur students qualifying for free and reduced lunches, there is a big need for a summer lunch program in Decatur.

Barnes said she hopes to see a lot of participation in Decatur so the program can continue next year.

“The more kids that come, the better,” she said.

The free lunch program will be held in the Decatur Community Building, the Sulphur Springs Shiloh Kitchen and the Hiwasse/ Gravette Fire Station from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday untilJuly 27.

Lunches are also served at the Glenn Duffy Elementary School cafeteria in Gravette each week day for children in that community.

Community, Pages 11 on 07/04/2012