The Wareham Public Schools summer food program will once again provide free meals to children under the age of 18 starting Tuesday, June 25. 

Different from last year, regulations associated with the program require that all meals be eaten at their distribution locations. 

A leftover fruit or grain item can be taken home after the bulk of the meal is eaten, according to Wareham Public Schools Food Services Director Mike Russo. 

The program will run Monday through Thursday through August 17, except for Tuesday, July 4. 

Meals will be distributed at several locations across Wareham. 

Breakfast will be served at the drop-off zone at Wareham High School, 7 Viking Drive, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.

At the East side entrance of the Wareham Elementary School, 63 Minot Avenue, breakfast will be served from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Only lunch will be served at the Woods Apartment Complex, in the vicinity of 36 Swifts Beach Road. It will be served from 11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

Additionally, only lunch will be served at the bandshell in Onset, at 4 Union Avenue, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and is open to students of any income level. 

“We do feel there is a need in Wareham that we’re trying to meet,” said Russo. He said the school has been contacted by parents who have said the program is “appreciated.”

Last year, the program provided approximately 11,000 meals over eight weeks, according to Russo. 

“We are expecting those numbers to be a little higher this year,” he said. He hopes the numbers will be higher at the start and the end of the program, when participation historically has been low.