Food truck providing lunches over the summer

The Nutrition Services Department for Painesville City Schools will be participating in the USDA Summer Food Service Program June 3 through Aug. 6.

The mobile food truck, also known as “The Lunch Box,” will be providing lunch and the following day’s breakfast to all children ages 18 and under at no cost, according to a news release. On Fridays, meals will be given for Saturdays and Sundays as well.

The program seeks to ensure that all children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session This year only, USDA waivers allow students to take meals with them, and meals do not have to be eaten on site, the release stated.

During inclement weather, the Lunch Box will not operate the route, but lunch will be served at the Harvey High School cafeteria. Participants are asked to check the district website and social media accounts for announcements during bad weather for this location change.

Also, there will be no meal service on July 5.

Meals will be provided weekday at the sites and times as follows:

• Harvey High School — 11-11:15 a.m.

• Chestnut Elementary (back lot) — 11:30-11:45 a.m.

• Maple Elementary School — Noon to 12:15 p.m.

• State Street Park — 12:30-1 p.m.

• Elm Street Elementary (back lot) — 1:15-1:30 p.m.

In addition to The Lunch Box, the district’s Curriculum Department is sponsoring a summer learning program that includes the Book Box as in past summers, but will now include more enhanced programming, the release stated.

The SummerXP learning program will run daily at one of the Lunch Box stops each day for two hours.

All students will have the opportunity to participate in a series of learning stations. Also, all students will be provided grade level specific take home learning activities, including books for all family members, math skill practice materials, and much more.

Participants are encouraged to attend one SummerXP session each week. Students will earn points to earn prizes for weekly attendance and completion of take home activities, the release stated.

The Morley Library will partner with SummerXP so students can earn incentives for their summer program. The library will be the first featured guest at SummerXP and Morley staff will attend multiple sessions of Summer XP throughout the entire summer.

Painesville teachers will be hosting SummerXP to connect with all students and families. Additional featured guests at SummerXP include Holden Arboretum, Crossroads Health, YMCA Central Branch, and Jungle Terry.

The weekly SummerXP schedule will be:

• Mondays — Elm Elementary, 12:45 to 2:45 p.m.

• Tuesdays — Chestnut Elementary, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Wednesdays — Maple Elementary, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• Thursdays — State Street Park, noon to 2 p.m.

• Fridays — Harvey High School, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.