New Hope Ministries providing meals for children

For some children, it's a struggle to ensure they have quality meals while out of school, but several organizations are working to make sure they all have access to nutritional meals.

New Hope Ministries' free summer meals kicked off Monday. The program provides breakfast for children 18 and younger Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 9 a.m. and lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Last year, 50-60 were fed breakfast, and an average of 180 lunch meals were served at New Hope Ministries.

For the past 11 years, the Mississippi County Health Department has contracted with the Susanna Wesley Family Learning Center to provide summer meals in the county, and more than 575 meals are served daily through the program.

Lincoln University provides meals for children in Southeast Missouri during the summer at several sites. At least 500 children benefit from the meals. Multiple sites are located throughout the region allowing parents to drop children off in the morning and pick them up in the evening.