Dawson County schools and parks will be opening their doors once again to help feed the hungry over the summer.

The school system's nutrition department is operating the Seamless Summer Feeding Program from community points across the county.

According to Linda Byrd, the system's director of school nutrition, local schools that qualified for the Summer Feeding Program had to have a reduced or free lunch rate of at least 50 percent.

"This program targets all children up to age 18 and age 19 for mentally and physically disabled children," Byrd said. "This program is a continued effort to meet the needs of these children over the summer."

There are no criteria or paperwork to participate in the program.

"We don't want to single out or discriminate against any child, so anyone that shows up, even if they are from out of county or state, we will feed them," Byrd said.

The program will continue as long as 50 percent or more of children in the school qualify for free or reduced meals.

The meals will be served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday in June and July. Meals will not be served from June 30 to July 4. While children eat free, adults are asked to pay $3 for their meal.

For more information about the program, call Linda Byrd at (706) 265-3246, Ext. 1008, or Rita Gilleland at Ext. 1019.