SANFORD — In 2018, Sanford School Department’s Summer Food program served 31,247 meals — an increase of about 22 percent over 2017 — said the department’s Nutrition Director Holly Hartley.

In so doing, the program has earned a $500 grant from Full Plates Full Potential, a statewide program that partners with other hunger relief organizations, and provides grants and technical support to schools and nonprofits to end child hunger.

Full Plates Full Potential’s inaugural 16 county competition was launched to highlight the critical work summer food programs do reaching the 82,000 children who qualify for free and reduced price school meals.

“This was our busiest summer yet” said Hartley of Sanford’s 2018 program. “We had seven sites across the community, and partnered with the Sanford YMCA, Curtis Lake Church, the local rec program, and the summer school programs. These meals are open to all, and no registration is required.”

Maine has 123 Summer Food Service programs with 450 meal sites across the state. In 2018, 727,238 summer meals were served statewide.

“We are so proud of Sanford Public Schools’ summer meals program,” said Anna Korsen, Full Plates Full Potential’s program director. “Summer time is an extremely challenging time for children who are hungry. Our 16 county grant program goal was to showcase and reward the best of summer programs across our state.”