Many Suwannee County students wondering what to do with their free time this summer may be in luck.

The 21st Century Summer Program begins June 8 and runs through July 31,

said project coordinator Kelly Waters.

“The goal of our program is to make sure that all students are prepared to graduate on time,” she said.

The grant program will be offered free to local students who attend

Suwannee Middle School, Suwannee High School and Branford High School,

grades 6-12. It will run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Kids are offered a variety of activities this summer.

Credit retrieval is at the top of the list for most students who take part in the program, Waters said.

“It’s a good opportunity for students who are behind in their credits to get caught up–this way they can start the year off with their classmates,” she said.

Aside from earning credits, students at Branford High and Suwannee High

can take driver’s education courses and A.C.T. prep studies. Sports clinics will be offered at each school, as well as a baby-sitting course at Suwannee Middle School and Branford High. Transportation will only be provided in Live Oak, Waters said. Bus stops will be located at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Greater New Bethel A.M. E. Church, Wayne Frier’s Mobile Home Park

and African Baptist Church.

Students interested in the program must sign a contract agreeing to attend every day. Contracts should be submitted by June 3, although some leeway may be provided for late registration, Waters said.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day through the Summer Food

Service Program.

The free meal program begins Monday at Suwannee High School and will end

Aug. 13. Branford High School will begin providing meals June 8 through July 30. Both sites will provide meals Monday through Thursday to youth ages 1 to 18. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from noon until 1 p.m. Parents of children must pay $3, and walk-ins are welcome.

Turnout is expected to be higher this summer as a result of the economic and financial hardships that many local families have faced, said Jan Smith, director of food service for Suwannee County Schools.

“Right now our numbers are pointing to 722,” she said.

That projection includes feeding kids involved in the local boys and

girls club, pre-kindergarten programs and school readiness programs;

children at Building Blocks Daycare, Suwannee High School, Suwannee Middle School, Branford High School, Branford Elementary School and families at additional feeding sites around town. Community sites include: Sweet Hope Baptist Church, Triumph The Church of the Kingdom of God, and the John H. Hale Community Park and Recreation Center.

Smith said more meal choices will be provided this year for children and parents. Some choices include: hamburgers and fries, stuffed crust pizza, chicken nuggets and spaghetti. All lunch meals will include side items and a drink. Likewise, breakfast choices will change daily. Meal schedules are available. Transportation will not be provided for the feeding program, Smith said.

Her hope is that the number of community feeding sites will increase in the future to make meals more accessible to local children and parents.

“I’d like to see more community sites in the future in areas such as

Wellborn, McAlpin and O’Brien,” she said.