Kids and teens in Olympia and Tumwater can get free lunch this summer, no sign-up and no school ID required.
Four sites are now serving drop-in meals through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Two Tumwater locations opened Monday, June 15, and two more sites launched Monday, June 22. All run weekdays through mid-August.
"That's almost two and a half months where students wouldn't have access if it wasn't for these summer meal programs," said Alicia Neal, food and nutrition director for North Thurston Public Schools, which served roughly 400 breakfast and lunch meals per day last July through the same federal program.
Here's where to go:
Olympia
- Garfield Elementary School, 325 Plymouth St. Lunch served noon to 12:30 p.m., weekdays, June 22 through August 14. No lunch Friday, July 3.
Tumwater
- Tumwater High School, 700 Israel Rd. Lunch served noon to 12:30 p.m., weekdays, June 22 through August 14.
- New Market Skills Center, 7299 New Market St. Meals served 11:15 to 11:50 a.m., weekdays, June 15 through July 23.
- Peter G. Schmidt Elementary, 237 Dennis St. Lunch served 11 a.m. to noon, weekdays, June 15 through August 14.
Any child or teen 18 or younger can walk in. No registration, no paperwork.
Neal said NTPS, based in Lacey, serves more than 11,000 meals per day during the school year. The summer program fills the gap between late June and early September when school cafeterias close.
Families looking for additional sites can text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 304-304 to receive a list of nearby locations. The USDA's Summer EBT program may also provide up to $120 in grocery benefits per eligible child; families can check eligibility at dshs.wa.gov. The Thurston County Food Bank at tcfb.org offers year-round food assistance.
