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Free Summer Meals Sites Open Citywide for District Kids and Teens

Monday, June 22, 2015

Contact: Victoria Holmes (202) 372-5415; [email protected]

Starting today, District parents and families will have access to free, nutritious meals for children ages 18 and younger.  The DC Free Summer Meals Program helps to ensure that children will continue to have access to meals that they normally receive during the school year through the school breakfast and lunch programs. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) launched the DC Free Summer Meals Program at the annual citywide Truck Touch on June 6 as a part of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Families, Recreation, Education/Employment, Safety and Health (FRESH) Summer initiative to help raise awareness about the importance of summer nutrition.

As part of the District’s effort to continue to assist parents and families whose budgets are often limited, the DC Free Summer Meals Program provides kids and teens meals at no cost at all participating open sites without any registration or identification requirements.

Summer meals are available at over 200 sites across the District of Columbia including select DCPS schools, public charter schools, DC Parks and Recreation Centers, DC Public Libraries, faith-based, nonprofit community-based organizations, housing authorities and other units of local government, as well as public or private nonprofit day or overnight summer camps. Organizations may also provide meals in the evenings, during the weekends and on holidays at their discretion. If interested in serving as a summer meals program sponsor or site, organizations may still contact Elisabeth Sweeting, program coordinator, at 202-724-7628.

The DC Free Summer Meals Program is a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Program annually administered by OSSE as a measure to help children and families maintain a healthy eating regimen during the summer months. Since 2005, through the summer meals program, DC has reached the highest percentage of children eligible for free and reduced priced meals in the nation.

Key facts about the DC Free Summer Meals Program:

  • Meals are FREE to District children and teenagers 18 and younger
  • No ID or registration is required at open meal sites
  • Parents are not required to accompany children to a meal site
  • All meals served follow USDA and DC Healthy Schools Act guidelines

Families can find meal sites near them or learn more by:

  1. Visiting dcsummermeals.dc.gov
  2. Calling 1-866-3-HUNGRY
  3. Texting ‘FOOD’ to 877-877