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The program has expanded this year to include stops in rural areas of Lane County, aiming to address the nearly 75% of kids in Lane County who qualify for free or reduced cost lunch during summer break.
Food for Lane County kicked off its Summer Food Program for Kids Monday, June 22.
In partnership with PeaceHealth, which donated $50,000 to the program, and Yogi, a tea company that donated $5,000, the program will distribute free lunches at dozens of sites in Lane County from June 22 to Aug. 21.
Lunch locations
According to Carolyn Stein, the executive director of Food for Lane County, the PeaceHealth donation and Yogi donation helped minimize a funding gap of over $100,000. Even so, Food for Lane County has to pay out of pocket to fill the remaining gap.
According to the Oregon Department of Education, about 75% of Lane County children qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch.
Last year, Stein said the free-food program served about 50,000 meals to kids throughout the summer, and they expect that number to increase by an additional 10,000 this summer.
“Food for Lane County’s mission is to engage our community to create access to food, and we do that with many partnerships with organizations and businesses across the community,” Stein said. “We went to PeaceHealth because they have a shared value to make sure that no child in our community goes hungry and they stepped up in a big way to help us meet the need in our community.”
The lunches will be served on a first-come basis, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Kids, 18 years old or younger, can receive meals, regardless of income.
Dean Evans is a seasonal employee for Food for Lane County during the free summer food program. He helps distribute food to children at the sites, and dubs himself “the lord of lunch.”
“I love kids, I love serving, I love giving kids food, and it’s super important,” Evans said. “I like kids having a sense of consistency.”
Julius Keyes, 12, received food at Emerald Park on June 23 with his family.
His favorite thing about the program was that “there are also kids who come from our apartment a few times a year. We get to try different varieties (of food) and we get to try new things.”
This year, the program has expanded to serve children in rural areas of Lane County. There are six “Rural Grab-and-Go” locations where kids receive a bag containing five lunches once a week.
“We expanded our program this year, recognizing that there’s a very real need out in our rural areas in Lane County,” Stein said.
Each “Rural Grab-and-Go” location will get at least a 20-minute time slot on its designated days.
“I think that what is really important about this program is that everybody has access to food, and it takes away the stigma that people might feel if they are accessing free food in the park,” Stein said. “They can come, and they can get a meal without judgment.”
Free Summer Food Program for Kids sites
From June 22 through Aug. 21:
Creswell
- Cobalt Activity Center, 364 Cobalt Lane
- Holt Park, 127 N. Fourth St.
Eugene
- Acorn Park North, 1501 Buck St.
- Amazon Park, 22 Amazon Parkway
- Brewer Park, 1820 Brewer Lane
- Emerald Park, 1400 Lake Drive
- Patersen Barn Park, 870 Berntzen Road
- Sheldon Community Center, 2445 Willakenzie Road
- State Street Park, Dakota Street and Burnett Avenue
- Willamette Garden Apartments, 3545 Kinsrow Ave.
Junction City
- Laurel Park,1515 Rose St.
Springfield
- Bluebelle Park South, 50th Place and Bluebelle Way
- Bob Keefer Center, 250 S. 32nd St.
- Meadow Park, 851 Mill St.
- Springfield Public Library, 225 Fifth St.
- Volunteer Park, 4350 Mount Vernon Road
- 1276 G St.
Thurston
- Splash! Lively Park, 6100 Thurston Road
- Thurston Park 747 64th St.
Veneta
- Veneta City Park, 25192 E. Broadway Ave.
‘Rural Grab-and-Go’ sites
Lake route
Tuesday, June 22 through Aug. 18:
- 11 a.m. to noon at Triangle Lake Food Box, 20280 Blachly Grange Road
Oakridge route
Wednesdays, Aug. 5 through Aug. 21:
- 10 to 10:35 a.m. at Oakridge Pantry, 46433 Westfir Road
- 11:05 to 11:25 a.m. at Salmon Creek Park, 48381 Hills St.
- 11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. at Oakridge High School, 47997 W. First St.
Dexter route
Thursdays June 25 through August 20:
- 10:50 to 11:20 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Community Center, 26286 Highway 58
- Noon through 12:20 p.m. at Dexter Pantry, 38925 Dexter Road
