The Hot Springs School District will again offer free meals to children 18 and younger through Aug. 5, along with its book bus throughout the summer.
"It is imperative that we do all that we can to support our students inside and outside our schools, and throughout the year," Hot Springs Superintendent Stephanie Nehus said.
"We greatly appreciate our outstanding partners at Chartwells, who are again allowing us to feed families during the summer, and at multiple locations. Absolutely all children -- no matter where they live in the area -- are welcome to eat with us during our summer meals program," she said.
Chartwells, the district's food service provider, will be offering meals on Mondays through Thursdays, beginning Monday through Aug. 5. Thursday meals will include bundled items for both Thursday and Friday for each individual.
While the meals are free to kids 18 and younger, adults can purchase meals at a cost of $2.50 for breakfast and $4 for lunch.
"Adults must have children with them in order to receive meals for each child," HSSD officials said.
Families can choose to pick up meals from two school locations or two #TrojanEats Food Truck stops.
The locations are Family Dollar, 899 Park Ave., 11-11:30 a.m.; Walmart Neighborhood Market, 1544 Malvern Ave., 11:45 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.; Park Magnet, an IB World School, 617 Main St., noon to 12:30 p.m.; and Hot Springs Junior Academy, 401 Emory St., noon to 12:30 p.m.
"We are also excited to start again our summer #TrojansRead book bus route. Kamo's Kids is helping schools make learning and reading fun even during the summer by helping to fund and wrap these mobile book buses at our schools," Nehus said.
"Our media specialists and teams have worked hard to plan this route and offer a wide variety of books for all reading levels," she said.
Books are open to individuals of all ages from any school or program. Books are free to everyone. The summer book bus route is on Thursdays, beginning this Thursday, through July 29.
HSSD officials said the Thursday dates are June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22 and July 29.
"It will be our library media specialists and administrators, volunteering all summer to work the TrojansRead Book Bus on Thursdays," Adriane Barnes, the district's communications and public relations coordinator, said.
The district will be having a summer read block party at Uptown Hot Springs on July 29 from 6 to 8 p.m., HSSD officials said.
Locations for the TrojansRead Book Bus are Park Magnet, an IB World School, 617 Main St., at 8:30 a.m.; Main Street Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School, 701 Main St., at 9 a.m.; Hot Springs Junior Academy/Hot Springs World Class High School, 701 Emory St., at 9:30 a.m.; Oaklawn STEM Magnet School, 301 Oaklawn St., at 10 a.m.; Langston Elementary Leadership Academy, 120 Chestnut St., at 10:30 a.m.; Family Dollar, 899 Park Ave., at 11 a.m.; Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, 1544 Malvern Ave., at 11:30 a.m.