Where to Find Free Summer Meals for Children

South KC Perspective

Schools, Libraries Offer Free Summer Meals for Children

By John Sharp

All three south Kansas City school districts and two area branches of the Mid-Continent Public Library are providing free summer meals for children and teenagers age 18 and younger.

Children and teenagers do not have to be enrolled in summer school to participate in the school based meal programs provided in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services.

The Center School District summer meal program for youth runs Monday-Thursday through June 28. Sites and times meals are served are:

Boone Elementary School, 8:30-8:45 breakfast & 12:30-1 lunch; Center Alternative School, 7:15-7:30 breakfast & 11:45-noon lunch; Center High School, 7:15-7:30 breakfast & 11:45-noon lunch; and Center Middle School, 7:45-8 breakfast & noon-12:15 lunch.

The Grandview School District program for youth runs Monday-Friday through June 29 at two schools.

Sites and times are: Conn-West Elementary School, 8:45-9:45 breakfast & 11:30-1 lunch; and Grandview High School, 7-8:30 breakfast and 10:30-12:15 lunch.

At High Grove Early Childhood Center, free meals are provided Tuesday-Thursday, June 12-14, June 19-21, July 10-12 and July 17-19.  Breakfast is 8:15-9:30 and lunch is 11:30-12:45.

The Hickman Mills School District program for youth runs Monday-Friday through June 29.

Sites and times are:  Dobbs Elementary School, 8-8:30 breakfast, 1:15-1:45 lunch and 4:15-4:45 dinner; Ervin Early Learning Center, 8-8:30 breakfast; 12:30-1 lunch and 4:15-4:45 dinner; Smith-Hale Middle School (at the former Hickman Mills High School) 8:30-9 breakfast; 12:30-1 lunch and 4:15-4:45 dinner; Ruskin High School, 8:30-9 breakfast and 12:15-12:45 lunch (no dinner served); and Warford Elementary School, 8-8:30 breakfast, 12:30-1 lunch and 4:30-5 dinner.

Both the Grandview and Red Bridge Branches of Mid-Continent Public Library are participating in Kids Café — the free summer meals program of Harvesters, the community food network.

Pre-registration is not required to enjoy a healthy meal at either branch.

Meals will be served on Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Red Bridge Branch through August 9 and Monday-Friday at the same time at the Grandview Branch through August 10.