PORTLAND, Ore. — As the school year comes to an end, families in the Portland-Vancouver metro area may be looking for ways to receive free meals during the summer. Many school districts are offering breakfast and lunch to children and teenagers at no cost.
Here's a look at some of the meal programs happening this summer.
Portland Parks & Recreation
Anyone 18 years old and younger can share a meal and play outside through Portland Parks & Recreation's Summer Free For All Lunch + Play program. It will run Monday through Friday from June 24 to August 16 or 23, depending on the meal site location. Lunches will be served in 20 parks across Portland. Meals will not be served on July 4 and 5 to observe of the Fourth of July.
Beaverton School District
From June 17 to August 8, children and teens — ages one through 18 — are eligible for free meals in Beaverton. There is no application or registration requirement. The meals must be eaten at the designated meal sites. Adults can also purchase breakfast and lunch for themselves to enjoy with their kids.
Use the interactive map below to find meal sites in Beaverton.
Hillsboro School District
Summer meals will be served at six different locations starting June 24 and ending August 15 (no service on the Fourth of July). Children ages one to 18 can receive a free lunch.
Salem-Keizer Public School
From June 24 to August 28, meal packs will be available for curbside pick-up at designated schools from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Each meal pack contains two lunches. It's first-come, first serve and each person will be limited to three meal packs.
Oregon's Summer EBT food benefits program
A new federal food benefits program is launching in Oregon in late June. Oregon Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) provides a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child to buy food.
Eligibility: School-aged children may be eligible if they are in foster care or their family participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the Oregon Health Plan, also know as Medicaid. Children who attend a school that offers free or reduced-price meals and live in a household that meets the income requirements may also be eligible. About 70% of children who are eligible will automatically be enrolled in Summer EBT while others will need to apply.
Evergreen Public Schools
In southwest Washington, kids ages one to 18 are eligible for a breakfast and lunch each day, regardless if they are part of Evergreen Public Schools. Breakfasts and lunches must be eaten at the meal sites. The meal sites will be closed on July 4 and 5.
Other free meals in Vancouver
Breakfast and lunch will be served at the community locations below (no meals on July 4 and 5):
- Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Washington at Burton
Where: 13501 NE 28th Street, Vancouver
When: Monday-Friday, June 25-August 9
Breakfast will be served from 8-9 a.m. Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. - Share/Vancouver Parks
Where: 13003 SE 7th Street, Vancouver
When: Monday-Friday, July 1-August 9
No breakfast. Lunch will be served at noon.
Summer Food Service Program
Don't see your area or your child's school district listed in this article? The Summer Food Service Program, also known as Summer Meals, provides free meals and snacks to all kids ages one to 18 in many states including Oregon and Washington. Kids simply need to stop by a site during the designated times to receive a meal.
Text "Food" or "Comida" to 304-304. You will be prompted to enter an address, then you will receive a text back with a list of sites near you.
To find a meal site near you, click here or use the interactive map below.