This Summer, the Carter County School System will be launching a new program for students, and they are looking to the community to help get the program off the ground.

The Lunch and Literacy Program will be held during the month of June and is a collaboration between two different departments within the school system — the Nutrition Department and Curriculum Department.

“This is something new that we’re trying this year,” said Director of School Nutrition Lindsey Feathers.

The program allows children and teens to receive a free meal and book through the month of June. Any child or teen may get a free meal and book at any of the Lunch and Literacy sites throughout Carter County.  Each location will be serving lunch in the cafeteria Monday-Thursday of their designated week. All meals must be eaten on site to ensure proper food safety, and that the meal is consumed by the child or teen. Adult meals will not be served. Children and teens taking part in the program must be supervised by an adult.

There are no income requirements or registration required to participate in this program.

Lunch will be served at the sites from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The sites are only open during serving times, and the cafeteria will be the only portion of the facility open to the program. Children and teens may go to any or all of the sites during operational weeks, not just the school in their community.

The Lunch and Literacy Program site schedule is as follows:

• June 5-8 — Cloudland Elementary

• June 12-15 — Hampton High and Little Milligan Elementary

• June 19-22 — Happy Valley High

• June 26-29 — Unaka High

To help prepare for the program, the Carter County School System is hosting a Summer Lunch and Literacy Book Drive beginning on Monday and lasting until May 15.

“We want new and gently used books,” said Mike Miller, Elementary Supervisor for the school system. “We have no idea how many books we’re going to need. We’re going to plan for as many as we can.”

Donated books must be age appropriate for children or teens, Miller said, adding school system staff will be checking the books.

Those wishing to donate books can drop them off at any of the county schools or the school system’s Central Office located at 305 Academy Street.

The Lunch and Literacy Program is a pilot program for the school system.

“This could lead to something pretty big,” Miller said.

For more information on the Lunch and Literacy Program, call 423-547-2917.