The Salvation Army of Suffolk on Bank Street will offer lunch, an open gym and basketball lessons to children this summer — all free of charge.

The Salvation Army of Suffolk is partnering with 1Died4All to hold a free basketball skills camp in the Salvation Army gym for participants ages 7 to 14. This camp will be held July 8-12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, according to a press release.

Space is limited, and those interested are urged to sign up immediately for a week of lessons in which basketball techniques meet the word of God.

“They’re going to incorporate the Bible with Bible drills and different things like that,” Capt. Johnny Anthony with Salvation Army of Suffolk said in a phone interview. “It’s basically using basketball techniques and adding the word of God to it.”

Suffolk’s Salvation Army has also launched a summer lunch program at their Bank Street location so that children have a place to go for a meal and gym time. This program launched on June 18 and will run to Aug. 16.

According to a press release, children can go the Salvation Army office in Suffolk on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1 to 2 p.m. for lunch, then enjoy basketball, board games and other activities in the gym until 5 p.m. The program will add a day beginning July 1, expanding to the same times on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

All children are welcome, but those under age 5 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

“At the Salvation Army in Suffolk, we see many in our community in need,” Anthony stated in the press release. “Last year we worked with No Kid Hungry to ensure the children in our area had a meal during the summer break from school. It was a successful program, but program restrictions still left many children hungry.”

“This summer, we will prepare the menus and the food from spaghetti to (barbecue) chicken to hamburgers,” he continued. “Our words have the power to tear down or build up a person. A nice hot meal can do the same.

“Food bridges the gap between different cultures and backgrounds and doing this summer program — inspired with love — we believe will reach an immediate need and inspire hope for Suffolk families.”

The Salvation Army of Suffolk is located at 400 Bank St. Contact Keana Johnson at 539-5201 ext. 205 for more information, or support the summer lunch program by making an online donation to give.virginiasalvationarmy.org/SummerLunch.