Through a special summer program, Carter County School System officials are hoping to fill bellies and fill minds.

The system’s Lunch and Literacy program will kick off for the year on Monday, visiting eight sights throughout the community.

Through the program, lunch will be served to children and teens under the age of 18. Meals must be eaten on site to ensure food safety and that the child or teen is the one consuming the meal. Adult meals will not be served.

All children and teens who come to the sites will also receive a free age-appropriate book.

The Carter County School System promotes nutrition and literacy throughout the school year and with the Lunch and Literacy program, they are hoping to keep students in that mindset over their summer break.

The program will run over the course of four weeks, visiting the sites Monday through Thursday of each week.

Funding for the meals comes from the Summer Food Service Program of the United States Department of Agriculture.

The school system received grant funding to help launch the literacy bus to help put books in the hands of children around the community.

The Lunch and Literacy Bus will be at the following sites on the dates and times listed below:

June 18 – 21

• Hampton Elementary School’s front parking lot – noon – 12:30 p.m.

• Elk Mills Fire Department – 1-1:30 p.m.

June 25-28

• Hunter Elementary School’s front parking lot – noon – 12:30 p.m.

• Stoney Creek Volunteer Fire Department – 1-1:30 p.m.

July 9-12

• Roan Mountain State Park pool parking lot – noon – 12:30 p.m.

• Lower Shell Creek Christian Church parking lot – 1-1:30 p.m.

July 16-19

• Central Community Christian Church parking lot – noon – 12:30 p.m.

• Big Springs Baptist Church parking lot – 1-1:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the school system’s food service department website at www.carterk12.net/departments/food-service.