Liberty County’s summer food program will look at adding hot meals to its offerings next year, the program’s coordinator told county commissioners.

This year, the summer food program served nearly 18,000 meals at its 15 sites. The program runs from June 1–July 31, and the busiest site was Hillery Park, where 2,337 meals were distributed. The Shuman Center was next at 1,720 and seven of the 15 sites served more than 1,000 meals.

The summer food program has 29 staff, with a program coordinator, two program monitors, supervisors at each of the 15 sites, seven kitchen prep workers and four delivery drivers. For next year, program coordinator Nichele James said, she wants to fully implement hot meals.

“We’ll meet with the health department to get the kitchens situated for that,” she told commissioners.

The program is still short of freezer space at the Liberty County Community Complex, where the meals are prepared, James said.

For next year, she also wants to ensure there are no staff shortages and there is better staff retention. James said she wants to plan early and recruit to make sure every area is fully staffed and that the staff is recognized for giving their time and effort to the program.

James also said she wants to have more student activities next year, and hopes to “expand enrichment, recreation, educational and team-building activities to create a more engaging experience,” she said. The average age for those served at the sites was from 5 to 12 years old.

The program also offered financial literacy, she said.

“We plan to increase those activities and boost participation at certain site,” James added.

The state Department of Early Care and Learning conducted inspections of the Liberty County Community Complex kitchen and the sites at Woodland Lakes and Lake George and had no findings, James said.