OAKLAND — Oakland is offering free lunches and afternoon snacks for children and youth age 18 and younger this summer.

A celebration to start “Hunger Free Summer” will take place today at Lincoln Recreation Center.

Community-based groups, libraries, recreation centers and faith-based organizations will serve lunch at about 70 sites Monday through Friday until Aug. 11. Anyone age 18 and younger can visit any site. There are no income requirements or paperwork to fill out.

Friday’s celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will include fresh produce giveaways, summer lunch vendor samples, free food, playground activities and resource tables. Those taking part will include the city’s Human Services Department, Oakland Unified School District, Oakland Public Library, Oakland Parks and Recreation, Alameda County Community Food Bank and Oakland Alameda County Community Action Partnership.

Lincoln Recreation Center is at 250 10th St.

About 20,000 Oakland children depend on free and reduced-cost school meals during the school year. The program is intended to help during the summer while school is out, when many families struggle to replace those meals.

To find the closest free meal site, call the Alameda County Community Food Bank’s Emergency Food Helpline at 800-870-FOOD.

To download a roster of current sites, go to www2.oaklandnet.com/government/o/DHS/o/ChildrenYouthServices/OAK022080.