Children fed through Summer BreakSpot Program

Program serves free summer meals to kids at 150 sites

The Pinellas County school system's Food Service Department is feeding thousands of children as part of its Summer BreakSpot Program. The department is providing a free breakfast, lunch and/or an afternoon snack to children who may not otherwise have access to healthy food when school is out. More than 7,000 lunches, 3,000 breakfasts and 1,500 snacks are served each summer at about 150 locations throughout the county. Each meal includes fruit, juice, milk, cereal and sandwiches or wraps. The feeding sites will remain open through Aug. 19. There are four ways to find one. You can visit summerfoodflorida.org, or dial 211, or text "FoodFL" to 877-877, or download the mobile app "Nutrislice" in iOS and android.

Students can still apply to special programs

Many seats remain open in Pinellas' public schools for students who want to venture outside their neighborhood school and try a magnet or academy program. Although the application period for those programs was early this year, many programs still have room for 2015-16, and families can apply through the late application process, which remains open through Dec. 31. To get started, find a program in the District Application Programs Guide at pcsb.schoolwires.net/choice. Next, make sure the program you have your eye on has openings by calling the program's coordinator at that school. If spots are open, log on to the Student Reservation System at reservation.pcsb.org, using your User ID and password. Select "District Application Programs" and follow the on-screen directions. For more information about the process or to apply, contact the Student Assignment office at studentassignment@pcsb.org or call (727) 588-6210.