The successful partnership of area churches, civic organizations and schools expects to provide thousands of meals to local young people this summer through the Scotland County Summer Feeding Program.

In its sixth year of existence, the program served 17,000 meals last year to community children.

“This would not have been possible without the many people who have given unselfishly of their time, labor and efforts,” said program organizer Faye Coates, who serves as Outreach Director at Restoring Hope Center, Inc.

According to Coates, hundreds of volunteers participate in making the program a reality.

Coates finds encouragement in the large-scale participation, which she says offers a vision “of what heaven will look like.”

“(The program) is a beautiful picture of what it looks like when a community comes together for a common goal,” said Coates, who called the program’s volunteers “(God’s) hands extended.”

There will be more than 20 active feeding sites offering breakfast and lunch this summer, each representing a different local church or community location.

Children 18 years of age and younger can eat at any of the sites, some of which open as early as June 11, free of charge.

The program is always inviting new organizations to “be a hero” by participating in the program.

Organizations or individuals can take part in the program in five ways, including by hosting a feeding site, volunteering at feeding sites, as a delivery team members or drivers, or as a member of the preparation and cleanup teams.

People are also welcomed to contribute funds to support the effort.

To get information or to volunteer contact the Scotland County Summer Feeding Program office at 910-610-9960.

Scotland County Summer Feeding Program Sites 2012:

All in the Word - 1220 N. Main Street, Laurinburg

6/18-8/2 (Closed July 2-5) B: 8 a.m. L: 11:45 a.m. Monday-Thursday

Autism Summer Enhancement Program - 831 N. Gill Street at North Laurinburg Elementary School

7/9-7/26 B: 8:15 a.m. L: 12 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Bright Hopewell Church - 601 Main Street

6/18-8/16 (Closed July 4-5) L: 12:15 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Camp Nehemiah-Judah International Ministries - 1003 Martin Luther King Dr., Maxton

6/18-7/27 (Closed July 4-6) B: 8:30 a.m. L: 12:15 p.m. Monday-Friday

Developmental Day Program - 831 N. Gill Street at North Laurinburg Elementary School

6/25-8/9 (Closed July 2-5) B: 8:15 a.m. L: 12 p.m. Monday-Thursday

East Laurinburg PHC: Our Place - 301 Sanford Road, East Laurinburg (in Fellowship Hall)

6/11-8/17 (Closed July 2-6) L: 12:15 p.m. Monday-Friday

Galilee UMC Summer Enrichment Program - 941 McGirts Bridge Road

6/25-8/3 (Closed July 2-6) B: 8 a.m. L: 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday

HYPE - 4 Sixth Street, East Laurinburg

6/11-8/17 (Closed July 2-6) B: 10 a.m. L: 12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

JAM Summer Camp - 22801 Air base Road at Spring Hill Middle School

7/5-8/9 (Closed July 4) B: 8:30 a.m. L: 12 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Jerusalem Summer Outreach - 16601 Jerusalem Road (in John’s Station)

6/11-8/3 (Closed July 4) B: 8 a.m. L: 11:45 a.m. Monday-Friday

Laurel Hill Summer Adventure Program - 12360 McFarland Road at Laurel Hill First Baptist Church

6/25-7/13 (Closed July 2-6) L: Noon Monday-Friday

Laurel Hill Summer Reading Program - 11340 Old Wire Road in Laurel Hill Elementary School

6/18-6/28 B: 8:30 a.m. L: 11 a.m. Monday-Thursday

NC Cooperative Extension 4-H EFNEP Boot Camp - 420 Stewartsville Road

6/11-6/27 B: 9 a.m. L: 11:15 a.m. Monday-Wednesday

Parks and Recreation Summer Camp - 1210 Turnpike Road (near Scotland Yard)

6/11-8/17 (Closed July 2-6) L: 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday

Restoring Hope Center - 507 Warren Avenue

6/11-8/17 (Closed July 4) B: 8:30 a.m. L: 12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Scotland Youth Center - 406 Biggs Street (nearly Piggly Wiggly)

6/11-8/17 (Closed July 2-6) B: 8:30 a.m. L: Noon Monday-Friday

Spring Branch MBC Youth Camp - 21300 Old Wire Road, Wagram

7/9-8/2 B: 8:30 a.m. L: 11:45 a.m. Monday-Thursday

The House of Bread-Bethlehem MBC - 439 Stewartsville Road

6/11-6/29 B: 8 a.m. L: 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday

Wagram Summer Reading Program - 24081 Main Street at Wagram Primary School

7/10-7/26 B: 7:30 a.m. L: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday

Wagram Recreation Center - 24441 Marlboro St., Wagram

6/13-8/17 (Closed July 4) L: 12 Tuesday -or- Wednesday-Friday (call 369-0686 for details)

Zion Campbell Children’s Outreach - 801 Midland Way (Near College Park)

6/11-8/17 (Closed July 2-6) L: 11:15 a.m. Monday-Thursday

MOBILE SITE: Tara Village in Tara Village

6/18-8/17 (Closed July 4) L: 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday