YOUNGSTOWN — Officials have announced the start of free summer meals through the Children’s Hunger Alliance.

The meals are for children 18 years of age and under.

Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti; Dawn Turnage, director of Youngstown parks and recreation; Erin Bishop, Youngstown health commissioner; and officials from the Children’s Hunger Alliance and CareSource on Wednesday announced the effort.

For the second year, the parks and recreation department is working with Children’s Hunger Alliance, a statewide nonprofit organization, to provide meals at seven city parks to help close the hunger gap for children in need.

The food insecurity rate for children in Ohio has risen, the organizations stated in a news release. The number of food-insecure children in Ohio increased to 700,000 — 1 in 4 — during the pandemic compared to 500,000 before the pandemic, which was one in five, the organizations stated, citing data from the organization Feeding America.

In February, CareSource announced the donation of $200,000 to CHA.

No registration is required for those wishing to obtain the food.

The Mahoning County sites are:

• Boardman Library, 7680 Glenwood Ave., Boardman, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

• Springfield Library, 10418 Main St., New Middleton, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• Tri Lakes Library. 13820 Mahoning Ave., North Jackson, Tuesday, Thursday, 1:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

• Greenford Library, 7441 South Range Road, Salem, Tuesday, Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Sebring Library, 195 W. Ohio Ave., Sebring, Tuesday, Thursday, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• Struthers Library, 95 Poland Ave., Struthers, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

• East Library, 430 Early Road, Youngstown, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

• Glenwood Park, 2538 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown, Monday, noon to 1 p.m.

• Lincoln Knolls Park, 31 Maranatha Court, Youngstown, Monday, noon to 1 p.m.

• Michael Kusalaba Library, 2815 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown, Monday through Saturday, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• MVSD Park, 180 N. Dunlap Road, Youngstown, Monday, noon to 1 p.m.

• Newport Library, 3730 Market St., Youngstown, Monday through Saturday, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.