Any child 18 or younger in Greenwich can walk into a participating meal site this summer and get a free breakfast or lunch — no paperwork required. Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker announced the program's return Monday, reminding families that the federally funded Summer Food Service Program runs every year once schools close for summer.

Unlike free and reduced lunch during the school year, this program has no income requirement at all — every child qualifies. But the need behind it is real: about 1,556 Greenwich Public Schools students, nearly 19% of the district's total enrollment, qualified for free or reduced lunch as of last fall. At Title I schools like Julian Curtiss, New Lebanon and Hamilton Avenue, the concentration runs even higher — every student at New Lebanon receives free lunch during the school year, no documentation needed.

"Access to nutritious meals is essential to supporting children's health, well-being, and success," Lamont said. "We encourage families to take advantage of this important resource available in communities across Connecticut throughout the summer."

Greenwich families can search ZIP codes 06830, 06831 or 06878 using the USDA Summer Meals Site Finder at www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder, or by calling 2-1-1. Sites are run by schools, municipalities, camps, colleges and nonprofits, often set up at parks, pools and libraries — and since locations and hours can shift throughout the summer, it's worth confirming meal times before heading out.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered in Connecticut by the state Department of Education, essentially extending school lunch and breakfast programs into the months when classrooms are empty.