SALISBURY — Starting today, three buses, six trucks and three vans will make their way across Rowan County to deliver the first of tens of thousands of free meals.

The meals are offered through Rowan-Salisbury Schools’ Summer Feeding Program, which delivers free breakfasts and lunches to more than 130 sites across the county.

Of these, 46 are listed as “open” sites that provide meals to anyone. Twenty-six of thm are at fixed locations such as community centers and YMCAs, and 20 are through the program’s mobile meals program.

The meals are offered to anyone under age 18 and must be eaten on site in front of program staff members except in cases of bad weather.

Summer Feeding is funded through U.S. Department of Agriculture grants and is free to local school systems, said Lisa Altmann, nutrition director for RSS. It addresses the needs of Rowan’s high population of students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch. For this 64.5% majority, lunch and breakfast during the summer months can be an uncertainty.

Fortunately, Rowan’s Summer Feeding Program continues to grow and evolve every year, said Altmann. Last year, the 40-plus-year-old offering began with just more than 100 sites, and accessibility at mobile sites was an issue. This year, mobile meal carriers are ready with pop-up tents so that even those in wheelchairs will have access to the free meals.

“This is my favorite part of my job,” said Altmann. “It’s just a blessing to be able to go out and make sure kids are OK, because they’re our future and we’ve got to help them.”

The program will also feature partnerships with the school’s curriculum department and community organizations like Bread Riot, each providing opportunities to distribute books or provide fresh produce to parents.

And, said Altmann, district staff members are working to target a new group of those in need this year.

“The hardest age group to get to participate is teenagers,” she said. “This year, we have as many high schools as will let us offering meals on their campus.”

These sites are closed to all but participants in summer activities such as band camps, athletic practices, driver’s education and the like.

“Those are our targets,” Altmann said.

Here is a schedule for the Summer Feeding Program:

Community sites
• Cross Ministries, 201 W. D Ave., June 12-July 18, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only, lunch at 11:15 a.m.
• Clancy Hills Apartments, 100 Clancy St., June 12-July 26 (no service July 3), lunch at 11:15 a.m.
• Defenders Sports Academy, 603 E. Main St., Cleveland, June 12-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Emmanuel Youth Experience, 306 Barbour St., East Spencer, June 24-28 and July 22-26, breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• Enochville Elementary School, 925 N. Enochville Ave., China Grove, June 13-July 25, Tuesdays and Thursdays only, lunch at 11:30 a.m.
• First Presbyterian Church, 308 W. Fisher St., June 12-July 26, lunch, 12:40 p.m.
• Granite Quarry Elementary, 118 S. Walnut GQ St., June 18-July 18, Tuesdays and Thursdays only, lunch at 11:30 a.m.
• J. Fred Corriher Jr. YMCA, 950 Kimball Road, China Grove, June 12-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 8:30 a.m. and noon.
• J.F. Hurley Family YMCA, 828 Jake Alexander Blvd. W., June 12-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 8:20 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
• Knox Middle School, 1625 Park Road W., June 17-July 26, Monday-Thursday, breakfast and lunch, 8:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m.
• Miller Recreation Teen Center, 1402 W. Bank St., June 12-July 26, lunch, 12:15 p.m.
• Miller’s Ferry Fire Department, 2650 Long Ferry Road, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11:15 a.m.
• Patterson Farm Market, 10390 Caldwell Road, Mount Ulla, June 12-July 26 (no service June 24 and July 1, 8 and 22), lunch at noon.
• Rowan Housing Authority, Grant Street Community Center, 300 Grant St., East Spencer, June 17-July 25, Monday-Thursday, breakfast and lunch, 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• Rowan Housing Authority, Running Brook Community Center, 2200 Running Brook Drive, Kannapolis, June 17-July 25, Monday-Thursday, breakfast and lunch, 9:25 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• Ro-Well Apartments, 923 China Grove Highway, Rockwell, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11 a.m.
• S&H Youth and Adult Services, 714 S. Main St., June 17-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 10 a.m. and 1:10 p.m.
• Saleeby-Fisher YMCA, 790 Crescent Road, Rockwell, June 12-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 7:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• Salisbury Housing, 1042 E. Lafayette St., June 12-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 9 a.m. and noon.
• Salisbury Housing, Linn Lane Apartments shelter, June 12-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 9 a.m. and noon.
• Salisbury Housing, Brookview Apartments, 711 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., June 12-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Salisbury Housing, Pine Hill Apartments, 410 W. 15th St., June 12-July 26, breakfast and lunch, 9:40 a.m. and 12:40 p.m.
• Save the Children Community Center, 102 S. Long St., East Spencer, June 12-July 26, lunch, 12:45 p.m.
• Shive Elementary School, 655 Holshouser Road, Rockwell, June 11 and 12, breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. and noon.
• The Salvation Army, 620 Bringle Ferry Road, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11:45 a.m.
• Zion Hills Apartments, 1614 Standish St., June 20-July 26, lunch, 10:30 a.m.

Mobile meals
• Ashley’s Mobile Home Park, Cedar Drive and Ashley Drive, June 12-July 26, lunch, 12:15 p.m.
• Benchmark Apartments, 848 Lillian St., China Grove, June 12-July 26, lunch, 12:45 p.m.
• Celebration Drive and Carpenter’s Circle, June 12-July 26, lunch, noon.
• Dunnsview Drive and Harris Granite Road, June 12-July 26, lunch, 12:45 p.m.
• Harrison Road and Independence Drive, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11:15 a.m.
• Laurel Pointe Apartments, 100 Laurel Pointe Circle, June 12-July 26, lunch, 10:30 a.m.
• Lowder Mobile Home Park North, 225 U.S. 29 N., China Grove, June 12-July 26, lunch, 1:15 p.m.
• Lowder Mobile Home Park South, 320 U.S. 29 S., China Grove, June 12-July 26, lunch, 1:15 p.m.
• Matika Mobile Home Park, Airport Road and Sarah Ellen Lane, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11:45 a.m.
• Mobile Village Mobile Home Park, 228 Dollie Circle, June 12-July 26, lunch, 1 p.m.
• Needmore Road and Erwin Temple Church Road, Woodleaf, June 12-July 26, lunch, 10 a.m.
• Oakland Meadows Mobile Home Park, 775 Airport Road, June 12-July 26, lunch, 10:45 a.m.
• Oak Haven Mobile Home Park, 775 Airport Roard, June 12-July 26, lunch, 12:30 p.m.
• Oak Mountain Mobile Home Park, Oak Mountain and Goodnight roads, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11 a.m.
• Peach Orchard Road and Ridge Street, June 12-July 26, lunch, noon.
• Pearl Street Apartments, Pearl Street and Morlan Park Road, June 12-July 26, lunch, 10:15 a.m.
• Rowan County Health Department, 1811 E Innes. St., June 12 and 21, July 12 and 26, lunch, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• 140 Titan Drive, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11:15 a.m.
• Town Court Mobile Home Park, Mooresville Road and Town Court, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11:30 a.m.
• Westridge Place and Westridge Village Apartments, 100 Donner Drive, June 12-July 26, lunch, 10 a.m.