The Summit Hill Heritage Center began its Summer Food Program on Monday.

The program offers a free lunch to children and teens in Lansford, Coaldale and Summit Hill from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every day until Aug. 15.Lunch is served at the Summit Hill Heritage Center, Grace Community Church in Lansford and Christ Redeemer Church in Coaldale.The administrator for the program, Deb Ranck of Summit Hill, said that donations have been down a bit this year, but those who have donated are greatly appreciated."We received a wonderful donation from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lansford," she said.She was lucky enough to accept donations from family and friends, even ones that live out of state."We usually spend more than we receive because we want to make sure we give the kids the best stuff," Ranck said.The menu varies from day to day, and meals are healthy, usually including a variety of meat, potato, fruit and vegetable.The program is currently in its third year of operation, and Ranck hopes to expand in the summers yet to come.On day one, about 40 children attended lunch at Grace Community Church, 30 went to the Heritage Center and 15 went to Christ Redeemer Church to eat.On the list of volunteers at Grace Community Church, where Ranck is the supervisor, were four others, including Marge Arner, Pat Whalen, Cassidy Ryan and Larry Mullen, all of Lansford.Ranck gave a special thanks to them, as well as Boyer's Food Markets, Trinity Lutheran Church, Wegman's, The Bagel Bunch, the Rev. Jeremy Beneck of Grace Community and Pastor Marie Terry of Christ Redeemer for their contribution toward the program.