MONCKS CORNER, S.C. — Thousands of Berkeley County children will have access to free breakfast and lunch this summer as the Berkeley County School District prepares to launch its annual summer meal program on June 8.
The district’s Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program will provide free, nutritious meals to all children and teens at eight school locations throughout Berkeley County while classes are out for summer break.
The federally funded program, which operates through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program, is designed to help ensure children continue receiving healthy meals during the summer months, particularly in communities where many families rely on school-provided breakfasts and lunches during the academic year.
The program will run Monday through Friday from June 8 through July 24.
Breakfast will be served daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., while lunch will be available from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
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District officials noted that all meals must be consumed on-site in accordance with USDA regulations. Children are not permitted to take meals off campus, although certain items such as fresh fruit or packaged snacks may be taken home if they remain uneaten.
Summer Meal Sites Across Berkeley County
Meals will be available at the following locations:
- Berkeley Middle School, Moncks Corner
- Cross High School, Cross
- Devon Forest Elementary School, Goose Creek
- Foxbank Elementary School, Moncks Corner
- Goose Creek Elementary School, Goose Creek
- Philip Simmons Elementary School, Wando
- St. Stephen Elementary School, St. Stephen
- Westview Primary School, Goose Creek
The district said site locations are subject to change and reminded families that meal sites will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
Support for Community Organizations
In addition to serving children directly at school sites, Berkeley County School District is inviting churches, nonprofits and other community organizations to participate in the program.
Eligible groups can apply to receive meals from open summer feeding sites through the district’s Child Nutrition Website. Families can also visit the department’s website to view summer breakfast and lunch menus and learn more about available meal services.
School officials say the program plays an important role in helping bridge food gaps during the summer months, ensuring children continue to have access to healthy meals even when school cafeterias are closed.
The Seamless Summer Option has become a staple of summer food assistance efforts nationwide, providing millions of meals annually to children in communities across the country.
