Free lunches return to Tacoma parks this summer. Here’s where to find them
With summer here, various agencies across Pierce County are offering free meals and park activities for youth ages 18 and under.
Parks Tacoma, an independent park district, will offer its Summer Meal Program across 14 locations from June 22 to Aug. 28, except on July 3. Park activities will abe included and start at 10 a.m. followed by free lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m with no registration required.
Lunch will be served on a first-come, first-served basis and will include a meat-and-cheese sandwich, fresh fruit and low-fat milk. According to Parks Tacoma, it will also offer low-fat chocolate milk on Thursdays and Fridays. The meal is required to be eaten on site.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and prepared by Pioneer Human Services, helping address food insecurity as schools close and students no longer receive regular breakfast and lunch services.
Parks Tacoma’s said the Community Market Resource Fair, hosted by Coordinated Care, will be present on July 9 at Verlo Playground and on July 30 at Stewart Heights Park from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The fair aims to provide a variety of community resources, connecting participants to social services around Tacoma.
The following parks will offer free meals and park activities for youth ages 18 and under:
- Eastside Family Resource Center, 3569 E. Roosevelt Ave.
- Franklin Park, 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave.
- Lincoln-Eldridge Park, 801 S. 37th St.
- Manitou Park, 4408 American Lake Blvd.
- Northeast Tacoma Playground, 5520 29th St. NE
- Oakland Madrona, 3114 S. Madison
- Sawyer Tot Lot, 3315 S. Sawyer St.
- SERA Campus Playground/Sprayground, 6002 S. Adams S.t
- South Park, 5044 South Warner St.
- Stewart Heights Park, 5715 Reginald Gutierrez Lane
- Titlow Park, 8425 6th Ave.
- Verlo Playfield, 4321 McKinley Ave.
- Wapato Park, 6500 S. Sheridan Ave.
- Wright Park, 501 S. I St.
Schools and public libraries across Pierce County also will offer free sack lunches, including Daffodil Valley Elementary School, Katherine G. Johnson Elementary, Expedition Elementary, Steilacoom Library, Fife Pierce County Library and Parkland-Spanaway Pierce County Library.
For more information on summer meal programs, visit the USDA Summer Meals Site Finder to find free or reduced-price meals.
