While the constant rainfall wasn’t the best backdrop for the kickoff of this summer’s free lunch program Monday, it didn’t stop dozens of Dowagiac kids from taking advantage of a healthy delicious meal, free of charge.

Employees with the Dowagiac Union Schools food services took to the streets that morning and afternoon, with two school vehicles stopping at a number of parks, apartment complexes and other spots throughout the city. Performing a similar duty as they had when class was still in session, the employees handed out free bags of sandwiches, fresh fruit and veggies, and cartoons of milk to students out enjoying their beginning of their first full week of summer.

Driver Tom Martin handed out lunch to at least a dozen kids at his very first stop of the morning, outside Justus Gage Elementary, he said.

“We’re just doing what we can to help feed the kids living in our district,” Martin said.

The district’s food service vendor, Sodexo, again partnered with the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program to present this year’s service, which provides a free meal to children under the age of 18 and to persons up to age 26 who are enrolled in an educational program for the mentally or physically disabled. With such a strong initial response Monday, the program’s success from it debut last year appears to be carrying over to this one, Martin said.

“Once people realized we were there, we got some very good turnouts,” Martin said.

Last year, the van was getting upwards of 20 kids visiting their stop at Water Tower Park alone, Martin said.

“We got to know a lot of the kids,” he said. “Most of them already knew us from the cafeteria line at school. I think they liked that, the fact they were seeing familiar faces.”

This year, Sodexo is ramping up their efforts to get more free lunches in the hands of local kids, adding an additional delivery vehicle to the rounds.

This year’s program runs from June 15 — Aug. 28.

The vehicles will be stopping at:

11-11:30 a.m., Twin Lakes Park, Lakeshore Road

11:30 a.m. to noon, Rotary Park, Riverside Drive

Noon to 12:30 p.m., HS Auto Shop, 701 N. Lowe St.

Noon to 12:30 p.m., Water Tower Park, Helena Street

12:30-1 p.m., Eagle’s Wood Apartments, 29509 Amerihost Dr.

12:30-1 p.m., ACTION Pantry, 301 Main St.

1-1:30 p.m., Walter Ward Park, 309 Thickstun