For the sixth consecutive year, the St. Luke’s Summer Meals Program will provide free lunches in Allentown and Quakertown to ensure every child in need has access to nutritious meals during the summer months.

St. Luke’s Community Health Department created the Summer Meals Program in response to the network’s Community Health Needs Assessment, which showed that more than half of students in these areas are eligible for free and reduced price meals during the academic year.

“The goal of St. Luke’s Summer Meals is to continue to address the gap in food security during the summer,” Kelsey Gasper, network initiatives coordinator, Community Health, said.

St. Luke’s is once again partnering with Catholic Charities to serve the Allentown community and Free Fall Action Sports to serve the Quakertown community.

The Summer Meals Program at St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus runs noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on the Fourth of July holiday through Aug. 23. Lunches will be distributed at 317 N. Fourth St. in Allentown at the Hearts in Service Center, next to Allentown Central Catholic High School.

Every Tuesday, fresh produce will also be available for children to share with their families and on Fridays, they will be given bags full of nonperishable food to take home for the weekends.

The Summer Meals Program at St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus is supported by West Side Hammer Electric, a division of Hatzel & Buehler, which is committed to making an impact in the communities where they live and work.

The St. Luke’s Quakertown Campus Summer Meals Program will also run through Aug. 23, noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday except on the Fourth of July holiday. Lunches will be distributed at Free Fall Action Sports Energy Center at 670 S. Main St. in Quakertown.

This location will also be providing fresh produce for children to share with their families every Tuesday, and children will receive a bag full of nonperishable food to take home to their families for the weekends each Friday.

Produce for the program’s meals is provided by St. Luke’s Rodale Institute Organic Farm. The take-home bags of fresh produce, along with recipes and meal preparation ideas, are provided through the St. Luke’s Community Supported Agriculture program.

Salisbury Township’s summer playground program will run through July 26. The hours are 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday evenings at Lindberg, Devonshire, Frank McCullough Sr. (formerly Green Acres) and Laubach parks. This elementary-aged program is for the children of Salisbury Township residents who have completed kindergarten through the age of 12. Registration/waiver of liability forms should be turned in at the park location they will attend on their first day.

Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eastern Salisbury, 1707 Church Road, Allentown, will hold its 265th anniversary event during the 10:15 a.m. worship service and luncheon following. A photo will be taken of all in attedance. Sign up in the Narthex or call Louise at 484-456-1148 to note your attendance for lunch planning purposes.

A reminder for new parents to the district: register your child for kindergarten online by visiting www.salisburysd.org/kindergarten. Eligible children must be 5 years old before Aug. 31. Once registered, you will be given information on screenings. School tours and bus rides will be given 8-11 a.m. Aug. 8 and noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 19. Kindergarten parent orientation is 5:30 Aug. 15 at Salisbury Elementary School, 1400 Gaskill St., Allentown.

Mark your calendars also for kindergarten Meet the Teacher Night 7-8:15 p.m. Aug. 21.

Yard waste drop-offs are open. The Franko site will be open July 8, 11, 13, 22, 25 and 27. Devonshire will be open July 6, 15, 18, 20 and 29. As always, hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

“Find your wild during summer vacation. Let’s wander where the WiFi is weak and the sun is strong. Catch fireflies, swim the seas, live the stories you’ll tell for years. Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” Author Unknown