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Dublin, Laurens County target food deserts with free summer meals

Several Central Georgia counties have free summer lunch programs that target 'food deserts'

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, certain areas in Laurens County are food deserts, which means it's difficult to buy good quality or affordable food.

13WMAZ found out how the city of Dublin and Laurens County are fighting back against hunger this summer.

Kids in Laurens County are taking advantage of a free summer lunch program in Dublin and Laurens County. Robert Thomas has been giving out the free lunches for four years and says things are picking up.

"On the first day everything is kind of slow, but it begins to pick up during the week," Thomas said.

Thomas covers six different locations across East Dublin.

The USDA summer meal program is open to anyone under the age of 18. Nutrition director of Dublin City Schools, Lisa Powell, says this program is vital for families who may not have the resources or income to feed their kids three meals a day.

"We don't want to assume these kids can just go and purchase their own meals, so they need somebody to help them out, and that's something we can easily do," Powell said.

According to Powell, kids must eat the meal at the location and she said Dublin has 15 different locations that serve a balanced breakfast and lunch for free.

"Usually one to two ounces of meat, and also some grain, a fruit, a vegetable, and then some milk as well," Powell said.

Powell said last summer Dublin City Schools served more than 20,000 free meals.

Thomas says this is a program he knows the community needs.

"[It's] a meal you don't even have to worry about. All you have to do is come up out that bed and get it," Thomas said.

If you have children under 18 that may qualify for this program, can click here for more information about the program in your area.

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