The Carter County School System will be wrapping up the Summer Lunch and Literacy Program this week after seeing three successful weeks for the pilot program.

During the month of June, the school system will be providing a free hot lunch meal to children on Monday through Thursday at different sites throughout the county.

Monday will kick off the fourth and final week of the program, as Lunch and Literacy move to Unaka High School. Meals will be served at the school from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Staff will serve the meals in the cafeteria at each location. The sites are only open during serving times, and the cafeteria will be the only portion of the facility open to the program.

The meals must be eaten on site to ensure proper food safety. Children must be accompanied by an adult to take part in the program. The child’s meal is free, and the accompanying adult can purchase a meal for $3.25. There are no income requirements or registration required to participate in this program.

The program is open to all children in the county, not just those living in the Unaka school district.

After the first week of the program, school system officials began plans to continue and possibly expand Lunch and Literacy next year.

In addition to receiving their meals, the children will also receive a free book as long as the supply of books lasts.

The school system is still accepting donations of new and gently-used books to be given out to the children. Donated books must be age appropriate for children or teens. Those wishing to donate books can drop them off at the school system’s Central Office, located at 305 Academy Street.

Any books left over after the program this summer would be stored for use in the program next year.

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