Students in Middletown can enjoy free meals throughout the summer thanks to the the school district's summer meals program.

Food service workers produce around 24,000 meals weekly during peak production.

The initiative is part of a nationwide summer food service program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Kids under 18 at city parks, summer camps and pools can get two meals free of charge all made at the high school food production facility. 

"We try to provide nutritious meals for all children in our community," says Lauren Burr. "It provides food security for that child. They may not have to worry where their next meal is coming from because they know they can go to their local park or to the teen center to get a meal for themselves."

Data compiled by the organization Feeding America says that around 18 percent of children in orange county are food insecure, meaning that they lack access to enough food to live a healthy lifestyle.