Bath Area Family YMCA began delivering free meals this week to children and teens in the community as part of the organization’s summer food program.

Every weekday through Aug. 22, YMCA staff and volunteers will deliver prepared meals at 12 locations in the communities of Brunswick and Bath. Meals are provided free of charge and are available to any child or teen from the surrounding communities.

Grab-and-go meals are provided on a first-come, first-served basis at the sites and times as follows:

Bath Veggie Van Route (Monday through Friday)

• 10:20 a.m.: Academy Green Apartments
• 10:35 a.m.: 19-29 Shaw St.
• 10:50 a.m.: 570-579 Middle St.
• 11:15 a.m.: Maritime Apartments
• 11:45 a.m.: Corner of Denny Road Bowman Street
• 12:05 p.m.: Oak Grove Apartments
• 12:25 p.m.: Atlantic Townhouses Playground

Brunswick Veggie Van Route (Monday through Friday)

• 10 a.m. Green Acres Estates (West Bath)
• 10:20 a.m.: Bay Bridge Estates (by Main Office)
• 10:45 a.m.: Perryman Village
• 11:30 a.m.: Old Gurnet Road (corner of Garrison and Heath)
• 11:55 a.m.: Curtis Memorial Library

When the school year ends, children lose access to the free breakfasts and lunches provided in Maine schools. This puts significant strain on families already struggling to make ends meet, especially given the rising cost of groceries. In Maine, nearly 1 in 5 children experience food insecurity, according to the YMCA.

“Every child in our community deserves access to healthy and nutritious food, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to play such an important role in fighting hunger insecurity in our communities,” said Jennifer Connelie, food program coordinator at the YMCA.

The YMCA launched its mobile Veggie Van in the summer of 2020, delivering hundreds of meals to children in Regional School Unit 1 and West Bath school districts, and has continued to meet increasing community needs ever since. Last year, the program distributed over 42,000 summer meals to the community with the support of dozens of volunteers.