It’s nearly summer and as it finally starts to warm up, schools are letting out and for some families that brings with it the concern of making sure their little ones get enough to eat during the days.

When school is in session, public school districts can cover a lot of the gaps that food insecurity creates for some families, but in the summer time those safety nets can disappear.

Enter Breakthrough Butler, a nonprofit organization that already provides the community with a safe space for young people to enjoy a variety of activities, and its free summer meals program.

Last year, Breakthrough Butler held a free summer feeding program in parks across the area and thanks to the success of that first go around, it will kick off again this month.

Beginning June 16, anyone who is younger than 18 can benefit from a free lunch provided at area parks.

Lunches, games and activities are offered at Father Marinaro Park on Mondays and Wednesdays, Memorial Park on Tuesdays and Fridays, Christie Avenue Playground on Tuesdays and Fridays, Rotary Park on Mondays and Thursdays, Institute Hill Playground on Wednesdays and Fridays, and at the East Butler Sports Complex on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

It’s a nine-week program and registration is required for each child who will attend. Forms can be found online at www.breakthroughbutler.org. Children can attend the program every day by visiting the different parks, they just have to register for any park they plan to attend.

These kinds of feeding programs help families bridge the gap between one school year and the next and help keep children fed and happy. It’s great to see nonprofits like Breakthrough Butler see such needs in our community and step up to the plate.

— KL