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In its second year, a county program that serves free lunches in the summer to students in low-income neighborhood has expanded to seven sites throughout the county to ensure the rising numbers of students that qualify for free meals do not go hungry when school is out.

"Hunger doesn't take a summer break," said Councilwoman Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring, who helped begin the county's summer lunch program last year, when it provided free meals at one school, Georgian Forest Elementary School in Wheaton.

This year's program, which began June 17, expanded to seven schools, including Rolling Terrace Elementary School in Takoma Park where officials met Monday to a kick-off the program. In addition to Rolling Terrace, the summer lunch program is available at Georgian Forest and Strathmore elementary schools in Layhill, John F. Kennedy High School in Glenmont, Maryvale Elementary in Rockville and Summit Hall and Whetstone elementary schools in Gaithersburg.

The seven schools are walk-in sites, where students can go during lunch hours for a free meal, similar to those served during the school year. The meals are meant to develop healthier eating habits among the students.

"I don't question the parents' understanding of nutritional value but I do question their ability to provide meals of nutritional value," Rolling Terrace Principal Jennifer Connors said Monday as about 20 students ate free chicken sandwiches, chocolate milk or orange juice, apples and Doritos.

The schools chosen have at least 50 percent of their students eligible for free and reduced-priced meals (FARMS). In Maryland, students are eligible for free meals if they come from a family of four in which the household income is less than $28,665. If the family's income is less than $40,793, students can receive reduced-price meals. About 30 percent of MCPS students countywide are eligible for free meals.

Connors said 60 percent of the students at her school participate in the FARMS program, up 10 percent from last year. Public schools Superintendent Jerry D. Weast said MCPS has seen an increase of 1,000 FARMS students since Jan. 1 and 2,400 in the past year.

There are also free lunches served at 120 other sites – including schools, parks and nonprofit organizations – in the county where summer youth programs are held, an increase from 79 locations last summer.

The program is funded almost entirely through the United States Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program, which reimburses MCPS for all meals served ($3.10 per lunch, $1.80 per breakfast). Last year, 166,389 lunches and 122,522 breakfasts were served through the program and the county was reimbursed roughly $717,000 in federal funds, said Kate Harrison, a spokeswoman for MCPS.

The county and school system split transportation costs, which amounted to $12,000 last year.