Summer is a great time to be a kid — unless you’re hungry and can’t get enough to eat.
One option for families is the Summer Food Service Program, providing free meals around Pierce County for kids ages 1 through 18. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
Officials say they’re trying to reach as many children as possible who get help the rest of the year through the free-and-reduced lunch program at school.
Last year, according to the OSPI, the summer program served an average of 51,000 meals per day at 989 sites around Washington.
“Many children don’t eat because they can’t get to the sites,” said Jennifer Mitchell, who supervises the program for OSPI. “Transportation is a barrier.”
“We are improving access; all we can do is try to do better,” Mitchell said.
The meals are served at area parks, schools, churches and community centers. Days of the week, times and meals offered may vary at the different sites, and are subject to change. No weekend meals are provided. For more information, call the phone number listed next to the sponsor of the site you are interested in.
The food is available to children, but not accompanying parents or other adults. No money, ID or proof of citizenship are required.
For additional information on the program, go to: resources.parenthelp123.org/services/summer-meals or call or call the Family Food Hotline: 888-436-6392 (888-4FOODWA), or call the Free Summer Food Contact Number: 866-EAT-MEAL (866-328-6325). TTY number 360-664-3631.
Bethel Schools: 253-683-6910
| Evergreen Elementary | 1311 172nd St. E. |
| Chester H. Thompson Elementary | 303 159th St. E. |
| Shining MountainElementary | 21615 38th Ave. E. |
| Spanaway Elementary | 412 165th St. E. |
Chinese Community Center: 253-376-3553
| ChineseCommunity Center | 5025 N. Pearl |
Clover Park School District: 253-583-7380
| Lakes High | 10320 Farwest Drive SW |
| Hillside Elementary | Garcia Blvd.and Magnolia Blvd. |
| Oakwood Elementary | 3230 85th St. S. |
| Tyee Park Elementary | 11920 Seminole Road S.W. |
| Park Lodge Elementary | 6300 100th St. SW |
| Dower Elementary | 7817 John Dower Road W. |
| Lochburn Middle School | 5431 Steilacoom Blvd. SW |
| Woodbrook Middle School | 14920 Spring St. |
| Clover Park High School | 11023 Gravelly Lake Drive SW |
Enumclaw School District: 360-802-7714
| City Park | 1350 Cole St. |
Food Lifeline: 206-545-6600, ext. 3660
| Boys & Girls Club - Gonyea | 5136 N. 26th St. |
| Boys & Girls Club - Topping Club | 3875 S. 66th St. |
| Boys & Girls Club - Eastside | 4818 E. Portland Ave. |
| Boys & Girls Club - Spanaway Middle School | 15701 B St. E. |
| Boys & Girls Club - Lakewood | 10402 Kline St. SW |
| Boys & Girls Club - Al Davies | 1620 S. 17th St. |
Franklin Pierce School District: 253-298-4602, ext. 4602
| ChristensenElementary | 10232 Barnes Lane S. |
| Brookdale Elementary | 611 132nd St. S. |
| Perry G. Keithley Middle School | 12324 12th Ave. S. |
| Midland Elementary School | 2300 105th St. E. |
| Franklin Pierce High School | 11002 18th Ave. E. |
| Tahoma View Apts. | 11208 1st Ave. Court E. |
House of Prayer Church of God in Christ: 253-473-6612
| Agape Christian Ministries | 4814 108th St. SW |
| House of Prayer Foundation | 6602 S. Ferdinand St. |
Joint Base Lewis-McChord: 253-966-4060
| Hillside Middle School Teen Center | 1876 Hillside Drive NE |
Metro Parks, Tacoma: 253-305-1022
| Franklin Park | 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave. |
| Portland Ave. Park | 3513 Portland Ave. |
| South Park | 4851 S. Tacoma Way |
| STAR Center | 3873 S. 66th St. |
| Titlow Park | 8425 6th Ave. |
| Verlo Playfield | 4321 McKinley Ave. |
| Wapato Park | 6500 S. Sheridan Ave. |
| Wright Park | 501 S. I St. |
| Winners Gym | 3523 McKinley Ave. |
| Colburn Park | 5506 20th St. E. |
Peninsula Community Foundation: 253-720-4453
| Key Peninsula Civic Center | 17010 S. Vaughn Road KPN |
St. Leo Food Connection: 253-383-5048
| Canterbrook Apartments | 7212 150th St. SW |
| Evergreen Ridge | 12623 Lincoln Ave. |
| Fir Acres | 12721 Addison St. SW |
| Hillside Terrace | 2330 S. G St. |
| Lincoln AvenueApartments | 12635 Lincoln Ave. |
| Pine RidgeApartments | 5618 Boston Ave. SW |
| Madison Complex | 3101 S. 43rd St. |
| Salishan (Tacoma Housing Authority) | 44th and R Street |
| Tillicum Library | 14916 Washington Ave. SW |
| Tyler Square Apartments | 3202 S. Tyler St. |
| Madronne Apartments | 3230 S. Mason Ave. |
| McCarver Park | 2301 S. J St. |
| Windsor Court Mobile Park | 3314 96th St. S. |
Sumner School District: 253-891-6450
| Daffodil Valley Elementary | 1509 Valley Ave. |
| Liberty Ridge Elementary | 12202 209th Ave. Court E. |
Tacoma School District: 253-571-3378
| Arlington Elementary | 3002 S. 72nd St. | ||||
| Birney Elementary | 1202 S. 76th | ||||
| Boze Elementary | 1140 E. 65th St. | ||||
| Bryant Elementary | 717 S. Grant Ave. | ||||
| Downing Elementary | 2502 North Orchard | ||||
| Edison Elementary | 5830 South Pine | ||||
| Fawcett Elementary | 126 E. 60th | ||||
| Fern Hill Elementary | 8442 S. Park Ave. | ||||
| Franklin Elementary | 1402 S. Lawrence | ||||
| Gray Middle School | 6229 S. Tyler St. | ||||
| Helen B. Stafford Elementary School | 1615 S. 92nd St. | ||||
| Jason Lee Middle School | 602 N. Sprague Ave. | ||||
| Jefferson Elementary | 6501 N. 23rd St | ||||
| Lister Elementary | 2106 E. 44th St. | ||||
| Lyon Elementary | 101 E. 46th St. | ||||
| Manitou Park Elementary | 4330 S. 66th St. | ||||
| Mann Elementary | 1002 S. 52nd. St. | ||||
| Mount Tahoma High | 4634 S. 74th St. | ||||
| Point Defiance Elementary | 4330 N. Visscher | ||||
| Roosevelt Elementary | 3550 E. Roosevelt Ave. | ||||
| School of the Arts (SOTA) | 1950 Pacific Ave. | ||||
| Science and Math Institute (SAMI) | 5501 N. Pearl St. | ||||
| Sheridan Elementary | 5317 McKinley Ave. | ||||
| Stadium High School | 111 North E. St. | ||||
| Stanley Elementary | 1712 S. 17th St. | ||||
| Truman Middle School | 5801 N. 35th | ||||
| Whitman Elementary | 1120 S. 39th | ||||
| Blix Elementary School | 1302 E. 38th St. | ||||
| Delong Elementary | 4901 S. 14th St. | ||||
| Giaudrone Middle School | 4902 S. Alaska St. | ||||
| Larchmont Elementary | 8601 E. B St. | ||||
| Baker Middle School | 8320 S. I St. | ||||
| Foss High School | 2112 S. Tyler | ||||
| Skyline Elementary | 2301 N. Mildred | ||||
| Geiger Elementary | 621 S. Jackson | ||||
| Mason Middle School | 2812 N. Madison | ||||
| Truman Middle School | 5801 N. 35th | ||||
| Northeast Tacoma Elementary | 5412 29th St. N.E. | ||||
| Meeker Middle School | 4402 Nassau Ave. N.E. | ||||
| First Creek Middle School | 1801 E. 56th St. |
The Evergreen State College: 360-867-6012
| Tacoma Campus | 1210 Sixth Ave. |
The Salvation Army: 253-847-2511, ext. 13
| Camp Arnold | 33712 Webster Road E. |
YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap: 253-460-8894
| YMCA Child Care at Custer Elementary | 7700 Steilacoom Blvd. SW |
| YMCA at Geiger Montessori Elementary | 7401 S. Eighth St. |
| Mel Korum Family YMCA | 302 43rd Ave. SE |
| Morgan Family YMCA | 1002 S. Pearl St. |
| Lakewood Family YMCA | 9715 Lakewood Drive SW |
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