PORT TOWNSEND — Students in three Jefferson County locations will have access to free meals throughout the summer through a federally-funded program adminstered through the Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the local YMCA.

“There are a lot of kids who get free and reduced lunches during the school year but they end up being hungry in the summertime.” said Jefferson County YMCA Executive Director Erica Delma.

“With this program potentially there won’t be.”

The Summer Meals Program will operate between June 17 and Aug. 23 in three locations, Chimacum Primary School, Mountain View Commons and Quilcene Elementary.

The hours are yet to be determined in Chimacum and Port Townsend, although the Quilcene program is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and will operate in conjunction with the Jefferson County Library’s bookmobile.

Qualifications for the program are based on the area’s poverty level, determined by the percentage of students signed up for free or reduced meals as in Chimacum and Port Townsend or through census data, as in Quilcene.

“The summer meals programs is targeted toward lower income areas as a way for children to get nutritious meals during the summer,” said OSPI Director Donna Parsons.

Parsons said that 50.6 percent of Port Townsend students receive the meals during the school year, compared to 85 percent for Chimacum.

The determination to qualify is based on the area and not the individual, Parsons said.

This means that any person under 18 can stop in for a free meal with no questions asked or identification required.

There are rules, the food must be consumed on the premises, with one meal per person but the idea is that every person who wants or needs a meal has access to the program.

For more information, call 360-385-5811.

Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.