The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) will provide free lunches for children up to 18 years old at more than 100 recreation centers in parks from Monday, June 12 through Friday, Aug. 11.

More than 520,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year. The goal of RAP’s Summer Food Service Program is to ensure children receive at least one nutritious and balanced meal per day when school is not in session. With the rising rate of childhood obesity, the program is a major component of the department’s effort to promote nutrition.

The lunch menu will feature healthy food options such as fresh deli sandwiches, turkey hot dogs, hamburgers, milk and a serving of fresh fruit or vegetables. The lunches meet all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition standards as well as requirements in the city’s Good Food Purchasing Policy.

“The Department of Recreation and Parks is thrilled to provide healthy and nutritious meals to the youth in our communities for another year,” said RAP general manager Michael Shull. “The Summer Lunch Program has a positive impact on the lives of more than 5,000 children across Los Angeles every day.”

The lunch program is funded by the USDA and administered by the California Department of Education. Locations in the local area include the Poinsettia Recreation Center, 7341 Willoughby Ave., the Hollywood Recreation Center, 1122 Cole Ave., and the Pan Pacific Park Recreation Center, 7600 Beverly Blvd. For a complete list of participating locations, call (818)516-2383 or (818)546-2384, or visit laparks.org/foodprogram.