SALISBURY — In just eight days, the Rowan-Salisbury School System has distributed over 20,000 free meals to children across Rowan County.

The meals — either breakfasts or lunches — are distributed Monday through Friday at over 130 sites across the county as part of the district’s Summer Feeding Program.

As of Thursday, 49 of these sites are listed as “open,” meaning any child 18 and under can come to the location and receive a complementary meal — an increase of three since the program started June 12.

The three new meal sites are at the intersection of Erwin Temple Church Road and Deb Street in Woodleaf, at Oakland Meadows Mobile Home Park at 126 Hubert Lane and at the intersection of Vista Drive and Acres Lane.

According to Rowan-Salisbury School System Nutrition Director Lisa Altmann, the USDA-funded program is offered in effort to bridge the gap over summer vacation. With 64.5% of Rowan County learners qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, nutritional meals during the summer months can be an uncertainty.

“We want to help parents and caregivers to not feel the pinch on their pocketbooks during these summer weeks,” said Altmann.

Altmann said the program also afforded other opportunities such as chances for attendees to get out of the house, to socialize with other students, receive free books through the school’s curriculum department, or receive free produce through partnering organizations like the Bread Riot.

All were evidence of the community coming together for one common goal, Altmann said: “It’s amazing each year to see all these people just coming together for basically our future, because that’s what these kids are: our future.”

In doing so, Altmann said partnering organizations and school nutrition staff members received benefit as well. The program offered chances for extended employment for 10-month employees.

And more than that:

“It’s probably the hardest work that they do in any part of their school year because of temperature and the capacity of the work they’re doing,” said Altmann. “But they do it with a lot of laughter. They’re just excited to be there. … This experience really changes their lives.”

The following are open sites and meal times through the program:

Community sites

• At the Cross Ministries, 201 W. D Ave., June 12-July 18 (no service July 1-3), 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 (no service July  2), 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 (no service June 26-July 3), 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.
• Erwin Temple Church Road and Deb Street, Woodleaf, lunch, 10:15 a.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, 215 Ferrell Lane, June 12-July 26, lunch, 11 a.m.
• Oakland Meadows Mobile Home Park, 126 Hubert Lane, June 12-July 26, lunch, 10:45 a.m.
• Oak Haven Mobile Home Park, 1271 Tall Oaks Circle, 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.
• Vista Drive and Acres Lane, 100 Donner Drive, June 12-July 26, lunch, 1 p.m.
• Westridge Place and Westridge Village Apartments, 100 Donner Drive, June 12-July 26, lunch, 10 a.m.