Families in North Andover who count on school cafeterias to feed their kids don't have to worry about lunch this summer. North Andover Public Schools is running free meal sites at four locations across town, serving anyone 18 and younger with no registration, no ID, and no cost.

The program, called Summer Eats, launched June 29 and runs through Friday, August 14. It's part of a federal nutrition effort administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and statewide nonprofit Project Bread.

Here's where families can pick up a free lunch:

  • Atkinson Elementary, 111 Phillips Brooks Road: Monday–Friday, 11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m.
  • St. Michael School, 80 Maple Avenue: Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • Thomson Elementary, 266 Waverly Road: Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • Wood Ridge Homes, 10 Woodridge Drive: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday only, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

All meals must be consumed on site, according to the district's program flyer.

The North Andover sites are part of a broader Merrimack Valley network of Summer Eats providers. The Merrimack Valley YMCA's Methuen location is also serving free meals this summer, offering a morning snack from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from noon to 1 p.m. weekdays through Friday, August 28, according to the YMCA.

Last summer, the program served nearly 3 million meals statewide at more than 1,500 sites, with more than 73,000 children eating at least one Summer Eats meal on an average July day, according to Project Bread. This year, the nonprofit granted more than $240,000 to Summer Eats sponsors across Massachusetts for equipment, staffing, and outreach.

"Families across the state are facing rising costs of groceries, housing and other necessities," Erin McAleer, president and CEO of Project Bread, said in a June 24 statement. "Summer Eats provides essential support in helping families bridge that gap."

The program ends Friday, August 14. Families looking for additional meal sites can call Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333, text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304, or visit projectbread.org/summer-eats.