PORT ANGELES — More than 8,000 meals were served during the free summer lunch program in Port Angeles.

That’s an increase over the 2010 and 2009 programs, which served 7,013 and 4,827 lunches respectively, said First Step Executive Director Nita Lynn.

First Step, which worked with Sodexo Food Services and several local organizations to offer the service, provided 8,518 lunches at eight sites to children during June and August.

“We provided lunch on 44 days and averaged 193 lunches per day,” Lynn said.

Meals were served to youths from 1 to 18 years old.

The program was offered through the Summer Food Service Program, administered by the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

‘Big thank-you’

“A big thank-you needs to go out to a variety of team players that made this happen,” Lynn said.

“Sodexo was wonderful to work with and made the lunches available for us to purchase at a reasonable cost.”

Other organizations involved included the Clall­am County Family YMCA; the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula; the city of Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Department; Franklin, Jeff­erson and Roosevelt elementary schools; Evergreen Family Village/Serenity House; Port Angeles School District central administration; and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

Pathways to Employment helped First Step staff the program with summer youth placement.

Lynn also noted several churches and private individuals volunteered time to the lunch program.

“The Albert Haller Foundation Board helped make this venture financially feasible,” she added.

Lunches were distributed at Franklin, Roosevelt and Jefferson elementary schools; the Port Angeles unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula; Evergreen Family Vill­age; Erickson Playground; the Lower Elwha Tribal Center; and The Gathering Place.