Schools are letting out for the summer and local area children seeking a reliable source of food are eligible to participate in free summer meal programs.
Snohomish, Everett and Monroe operate these programs to ensure children do not go hungry during their time off from school.
Open to any child 18 or younger, services begin for Snohomish on June 20, Monroe on June 26 and Everett starts July 1. No income restrictions or pre-registration required, and children must be present to receive a single meal.
Snohomish
Snohomish’s “Kids’ Café” is using a food truck to supply lunch to the Three Rivers Mobile Home Park (13201 Elliott Rd.) from 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and Circle H Mobile Home Park (6413 123rd Ave. SE) from 11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Breakfast and lunch are available at Valley View Middle School (14308 Broadway Ave. SE), as well as the Snohomish Library (311 Maple Ave.). Breakfast runs from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. with lunchtimes ranging from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Services are offered Monday through Friday.
See www.sno.wednet.edu/kidscafe for exact times.
Since 2010, “Kids’ Café” has been running the summer meal program, growing over the years to incorporate serving breakfast and different ways of delivering meals to other areas. Last summer 11,991 total meals were distributed, 3,310 breakfast orders and 8,681 lunches.
Local elementary schools are open for children to check out books beginning July 3 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. A mobile “Book Café” van starts delivering books July 9, every Tuesday to Three Rivers Mobile Home and the Snohomish Boys & Girls Club. On Thursdays the bookmobile will stop by Plantation Mobile Home Park, Snohomish Mobile Home Park and Circle H Mobile Home Park.
A full list of locations and times can be found on the “Book Cafe” website at www.sno.wednet.edu/bookcafe or call 360-563-7300.
Monroe
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at Frank Wagner Elementary (115 Dickinson Road) starting on June 26.
“The food must be consumed on site and may not be shared with anyone over the age of 18,” according to the district.
Everett
The Everett program begins on July 1 at certain locations, while others open July 2 through July 9. Twelve locations will eventually be available to provide free lunch at different times, varying from 10:15 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. A full list of service times can be found at www.everettsd.org/summermeals or call the district’s food service office at 425-385-4380. Dates and times may change throughout the summer.
Locations where meals will be served include:
• Cascade Boys & Girls Club, 7600 Cascade Drive
• Eisenhower Middle School, 10200 25th Ave. SE
• Everett Boys & Girls Club, 2316 12th St.
• Everett Public Library: Main Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave.
• Family Tree, 10110 19th Ave. SE
• Forest Park, 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd.
• Garfield Elementary, 2215 Pine St.
• Mill Pointe Apartments, 3111 132nd St. SE
• Riverview Apartments, 1622 E. Marine View Dr.
• View Ridge Elementary, 202 Alder St.
Eisenhower Middle School is the only site currently supplying breakfast Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
“The Summer Food Service Program offers a framework for school districts and community organizations to provide important meals to families when the academic year ends. Children arriving at one of our Summer Meals sites will be given a fresh meal at no cost, full of: whole grains, lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus milk,” Director of Food and Nutrition Services Adam Pazder said.
Any community members interested in hosting a site for summer meals can visit www.everettsd.org/summermeals for an application.
Statewide summer meal program locator
To find info about summer meals call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or text “Food” to 304-304. For Spanish call 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) and press “3” or text “Comida” to 304-304. You can also visit the website www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids , enter your address and find meal sites nearby.
