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QuickTake:
Federal funding for the summer meals program will continue through the end of the year, and that’s good news for children countywide.
Children will be able to access free lunches this summer, rain or shine, at 44 locations in Lane County through Food for Lane County, with more sites in rural areas this year.
Carolyn Stein, executive director of the organization, said it’s adding eight lunch locations. She said funding for the program through 2025 was not affected by cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture because it comes from a 2023 USDA grant.
How to find free summer meals for kids
From June 23 to Aug. 22, kids ages 1-18, regardless of income, can eat a prepared cold lunch at various parks, community centers, schools and libraries across the county from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Families can find all locations on the program map below. Children who are 2 or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
The menu includes yogurt and granola fruit parfaits, sun butter and jelly sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, corndogs and DIY naan pizza. Each meal includes veggies, fruit and milk. All grains are whole grains.
Newly added this year, the Rural Kids Lunch Program will provide five lunches for kids in a grab-and-go bag once a week at eight sites in Pleasant Hill, Dexter, Westfir and Oakridge. Specific dates and times for these rural pickup locations can be found on the summer meals program webpage.
Stein said children can access food on weekends at meal sites across Lane County listed on their website or can visit an area food pantry.
Because anyone can access the Summer Food Program, families of all socioeconomic backgrounds eat together without having to provide proof of income or ID.
“These programs are for anyone in the park or anyone at our site,” Stein said. “It could be a bunch of moms with their kids who happen to need a snack.”
