According to CNBC, the National School Lunch Program serves over 30 million children every day, the School Breakfast Program serves over 14.7 million children, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program serves over 6.1 million children.
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Schools closing for two weeks or more around much of the U.S. because of Coronavirus can have a dramatic impact on low-income families struggling to make ends meet. The good news is that there are many county and city school districts offering free meals for kids who usually rely on their school meals. Here’s a compilation of places where families in need can grab these lunches:
Alabama
Birmingham Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 while schools are closed.
Details: They’ll be serving both breakfast and lunch for students or families to take home. There are various options at different locations, including drive thru pick ups and school bus pick ups. Free meals are available for children ages 18 and younger, even if they’re not enrolled in Birmingham Public Schools. Children don’t have to be present for a parent to pick up their meals and menus will have assorted choices with items like assorted deli sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, and hummus.
Where to Get Them:
- Drive thru-pick up style at Groves High School from 10 am – noon (20500 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills). The drive/walk through is located on the Groves parking lot facing the football field in between the auditorium and pool doors.
- School Bus-Pick up style at Derby Middle School Parking Lot from 10 – 11 am (1300 Derby, Birmingham)
- School Bus-Pick up style at Bus Stop Huntley Square Apartments from 10 – 11 am (31065 Huntley Square, Beverly Hills)
There is a flyer the school created with the information on their program as well here.
Sources: Birmingham Public Schools website
Montgomery Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 while schools are closed
Details: The Montgomery Public Schools Child Nutrition Program has designated 13 schools located throughout Montgomery County as locations where breakfast and lunch will be available for pickup.
The schools will be open 7 – 9 am for breakfast and 11 am – 1 pm for lunch. The meals will be available for anyone ages 18 and under regardless of what school they attend. No paperwork is required, but children must be present. The meals will be solely for pickup and can’t be eaten on-site. They’re also encouraging parents to be proactive in reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 by not congregating at school sites and practicing social distancing once meals have been distributed.
Where to Get Them:
- Bellingrath Middle
- Brewbaker Middle
- Booker T. Washington Magnet High
- Johnnie Carr Middle Chisholm Elementary
- Peter Crump Elementary
- Dalraida Elementary
- Dannelly Elementary
- Floyd Middle Magnet
- Martin Luther King Elementary
- Pintlala Elementary
- Southlawn Middle
- Wares Ferry Road Elementary
The Montgomery Public Schools website will stay updated with the latest information.
Sources: Alabama News Network
California
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
Dates: Weekdays between Wednesday March 18, 2020 – Friday April 10, 2020
Details: There aren’t a ton of details as LAUSD is still getting everything coordinated. However, School Superintendent Austin Beutner tweeted this information and said more information is coming soon:
Update on March 15th.
— Austin Beutner (@AustinLASchools) March 16, 2020
Actualización del 15 de marzo pic.twitter.com/u7YaFuz6vr
They’re planning to open 20 grab and go centers to provide nutritional support to students.
Where to Get Them: Details pending, check the Superintendent’s twitter account for updates.
Source: LAUSD
San Diego Unified School District
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Details: Daily prepared meals will be provided for free. Meals are distributed via drive-thru or walk-up by the district’s Food and Nutrition Services department to children ages 18 and younger from 11 am – 1 pm.
Each child may take two meals each day (one lunch and one breakfast for the next day). Children must be present to receive meals and all food must be taken offsite to be eaten.
Where to Get Them:
- Clark Middle School – 4388 Thorn St., San Diego, CA 92105
- Cherokee Point Elementary – 3735 38th St., San Diego, CA 92105
- Sherman Elementary School – 301 22nd St., San Diego, CA 92102
- Zamorano Fine Arts Academy – 2655 Casey St., San Diego, CA 92139
- Kearny High School – 1954 Komet Way., San Diego, CA 92111
- Walker Elementary School – 9245 Hillery Dr., San Diego, CA 92126
- Farb Middle School – 4880 La Cuenta Dr., San Diego, CA 92124
- O’ Farrell Charter School – 6130 Skyline Dr., San Diego, CA 92114
Source: NBC San Diego (they also have details of other San Diego public school districts and what meals they’re providing on their site here)
Florida
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS)
Dates: Weekdays beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 while schools are closed
Details: All schools will be providing hot grab-and-go meals for both breakfast and lunch between 9 am – 12:30 pm.
The district’s website notes, “Food insecurity is a serious concern in our community. M-DCPS provides free breakfast for all students and free or reduced-price lunch to more than 73% of students. With the support of local community partners, M-DCPS is ready to implement a community feeding plan to provide meals for ALL students.”
Where to Get Them: Students can pick up meals at their enrolled school or their neighborhood school. They’ll distribute meals outside the building.
Sources: CBS Miami and M-DCPS website
Orlando: Seminole County Schools
Get details on where students in Seminole County can get free meals here from FOX 35 Orlando.
Tampa-St. Petersburg Schools
Get details on various school districts offering free meals including Hillsborough, Pinellas, and other counties here from WTSP.
Georgia
Atlanta Public Schools (APS)
Dates: Weekdays beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 while schools are closed
Details: APS is distributing emergency student meals and running some food routes using their buses. They’ll continue updating their website with more information. For now, all children and families throughout the community can receive free-bagged meals (breakfast and lunch) at their five APS school sites from 10 am – noon.
Where to get them:
- Bunche Middle School – 1925 Niskey Lake Rd., SW
- Cleveland Avenue Elementary School – 2672 Old Hapeville Rd., SW
- Douglass High School – 225 Hamilton E Holmes Dr., NW
- Phoenix Academy (formerly Alonzo Crim High School) – 256 Clifton St., SE
- Sylvan Hills Middle School – 1461 Sylvan Rd., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
In addition, ready-to-eat meals are available through their partner, GOODR, at Hosea Williams Feed The Hungry at 4779 Mindy St., and at Loaves and Fishes at St. John the Wonderworker Parish at 543 Cherokee Ave. GOODR is also going to be at the five APS school sites with fresh produce for pick up as well.
Beginning, March 23, 2020, Atlanta Community Food Bank (an APS partner) will also help all children and their families throughout the community receive shelf-stable groceries at the five APS food distribution sites. The Atlanta Community Food Bank has more than 50 sites for food distribution. (APS doesn’t manage the hours or service at these food distribution sites, so you’d need to contact the sites directly for information about their hours, service, and any other requirements. Click here to see the full list of food distribution sites).
APS is accepting donations as well if you’re able to support your local community. Get details to help here.
Source: APS website
Metro Atlanta Area Schools
Get more details about free lunches and meals available at other school in the Metro Atlanta area from the AJC here.
Massachussets
Boston Public Schools (BPS)
Dates: Weekdays beginning Monday, March 17, 2020 while schools are closed
Details: BPS will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all Boston children from 8:30 – 11:30 am at various locations the locations. They’ll have a variety of packaged meal options available for pick-up.
Additionally, the City of Boston in partnership with Project Bread, YMCA of Greater Boston, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and other community organizations will be providing free meals to Boston families at various locations and times across the city.
Where to get them: They have a map on the BPS website that indicates locations throughout the city:
- Boston Public School locations for meals for school-aged children are in blue
- City-wide meal distribution sites are in red
Source: Boston Public Schools website
New York
New York City Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 while schools are closed through April 17, 2020
Details: Grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches will be available at every school building until further notice.
Where to get them: Get updates on the NYC Department of Education website here.
Source: NYC Dept. of Education website
Texas
Dallas ISD
Dates: Monday, March 16, 2020 – Thursday, March 19, 2020
Details: These are free meals being offered during spring break to students up to age 18 or students with disabilities of any age. Meals offered include a breakfast snack from 9 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Where to Get Them: At 14 of their campuses; specific location info is available here.
Source: CBS DFW
Washington, D.C. Metro Area (Including Maryland and Virginia)
D.C. Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Details: Free meals are available for all students in need of them each weekday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Where to Get Them:
- Anacostia High School, 1601 16th Street SE
- Ballou High School, 3401 4th Street SE
- Banneker High School, 800 Euclid Street NW
- Brookland Middle School, 1150 Michigan Avenue NE
- Cardozo Education Campus, 1200 Clifton Street NW
- Columbia Heights Education Campus, 3101 16th Street NW
- Coolidge High School, 6315 5th Street NW
- Eastern High School, 1700 East Capitol Street NE
- Jefferson Middle School, 801 7th Street SW
- Kelly Miller Middle School, 301 49th Street NE
- Kimball Elementary School, 3375 Minnesota Avenue SE
- LaSalle-Backus Education Campus, 501 Riggs Road NE
- McKinley Education Campus, 151 T Street NE
- Stanton Elementary School, 2701 Naylor Road SE
- Walker-Jones Education Campus, 1125 New Jersey Avenue NW
- Woodson High School, 540 55th Street NE
Source: WJLA ABC
Maryland: Anne Arundel County Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: Curbside pickup of hot lunch meals along with a snack will be provided to students at 31 school sites from noon – 12:30 pm. There will also be mobile meals vehicles that will deliver meals to 21 additional sites, two schools and six communities.
Each child ages 2-18 will be provided with a single meal free of charge each day. Adults cannot accept meals on behalf of children, so the child must be present with the parent or guardian.
Where to Get Them:
The following schools will serve as meal sites –
- Annapolis High
- Annapolis Middle
- Bates Middle
- Belle Grove Elementary
- Brooklyn Park Elementary
- Brooklyn Park Middle
- Carrie Weedon Early Education Center
- Eastport Elementary
- Freetown Elementary
- George Cromwell Elementary
- Georgetown East Elementary
- Germantown Elementary
- Glen Burnie High
- Glen Burnie Park Elementary
- Glendale Elementary
- Lothian Elementary
- MacArthur Middle
- Marley Elementary
- Meade Heights Elementary
- Meade Middle
- Mills Parole Elementary
- North County High
- North Glen Elementary
- Old Mill Middle North
- Park Elementary
- Point Pleasant Elementary
- Rippling Woods Elementary
- Southgate Elementary
- Tyler Heights Elementary
- Van Bokkelen Elementary
- Woodside Elementary
Children can also pick up meals at the following mobile meal sites and times:
- Brock Bridge Elementary, 12:25 to 12:40 p.m.
- Maryland City Elementary, 12:50 to 1:05 p.m.
- Annapolis Gardens, 1845 Bowman Court, Annapolis, 10:45 to 11:00 a.m.
- Bywater Community, 1901 Copeland Street, Annapolis, 11:15 to 11:30 a.m.
- Woodside Gardens, 701 Newtown Drive, 11:45 a.m. to noon
- Hilltop Village, 2 Heritage Court, Annapolis, 12:15 to 12:30 p.m.
- Congregation Kneseth Israel, 1125 Spa Road, Annapolis, 12:45 to 1:00 p.m.
- Admiral Farragut, 205 Boxwood Road @ Boxwood Court, 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.
- Maryland City @ Russett Community Library, 3501 Russett Common, Laurel, noon to 12:15 p.m.
- Maryland Manor, 1500 Berkley Court, Harwood, 10:50 to 11:05 a.m.
- Rio Vista, 900 Margarita Street, Lothian, 11:20 to 11:35 a.m.
- Patuxent Mobile, 121 Patuxent Mobile Estate, Lothian, 11:45 a.m. to noon
- Wayson Woods, 125 Main Street, Lothian, 12:15 to 12:30 p.m.
- Cedar Morris, 351 Arundel Corporation Road, Glen Burnie, 11:00 to 11:15 a.m.
- The Willows Apartments, 116 Warwickshire Lane @ Harris & Allen Road, Glen Burnie, 11:30 to 11:45 a.m.
- Heritage Hill, 6399 Continental Drive & Heritage Hill Drive, Glen Burnie, noon to 12:15 p.m.
- Pumphrey Center, 5757 Belle Grove Road, Baltimore, 12:35 to 12:50 p.m.
- Pioneer City, 8443 Pioneer Drive, Severn, 11:00 to 11:15 a.m.
- Spring Meadows, 8311 Still Meadows Drive, Severn, 11:20 to 11:35 a.m.
- Still Meadows, 8201 Averill Court, Severn, 11:40 to 11:55 a.m.
- Meade Village, 1710 Meade Village Circle, Severn, noon to 12:15 p.m.
Source: WJLA ABC
Maryland: Charles County Public Schools (CCPS)
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: CCPS food and nutrition employees will staff each location to provide free breakfast and lunch to all children ages 18 and younger. The curbside distribution of breakfast packs and cold, bagged lunches will take place at eight sites from 11 am – 1 pm, rain or shine.
Where to Get Them:
- Henry E. Lackey High School
- Maurice J. McDonough High School
- St. Charles High School
- Westlake High School
- Milton M. Somers Middle School
- Indian Head Elementary School
- Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School
- J.P. Ryon Elementary School
Source: WJLA ABC
Maryland: Charles County Public Schools (CCPS)
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: CCPS food and nutrition employees will staff each location to provide free breakfast and lunch to all children ages 18 and younger. The curbside distribution of breakfast packs and cold, bagged lunches will take place at eight sites from 11 am – 1 pm, rain or shine.
Where to Get Them:
- Henry E. Lackey High School
- Maurice J. McDonough High School
- St. Charles High School
- Westlake High School
- Milton M. Somers Middle School
- Indian Head Elementary School
- Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School
- J.P. Ryon Elementary School
Source: WJLA ABC
Maryland: Frederick County Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: They will be serving free breakfast and lunch to all children ages 18 and younger and anyone enrolled in an education program for persons with disabilities. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 – 9:30 am and lunch will be served 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.
A unique aspect to this program is that children do not have to live in Frederick County or be students in the school district to receive free meals. Children will be allowed to take their meals to go and participating schools will have containers and bags for children to transport their meals.
Where to Get Them:
- Ballenger Creek Elementary
- Crestwood Middle School
- Frederick High School
- Hillcrest Elementary School
- Lincoln Elementary School
- Monocacy Elementary School
- North Frederick Elementary School
- Waverley Elementary School
Source: WJLA ABC
Maryland: Howard County Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: They’ll provide free “Grab-N-Go” meals to anyone 18 and younger during the March school closures. Meals will be available from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. There is no application, enrollment, or fee for this program.
Where to Get Them:
School sites –
- Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City
- Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia
- Swansfield Elementary School, 5610 Cedar Lane, Columbia
- Cradlerock Elementary School/Lake Elkhorn Middle School, 6680 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
Mobile sites –
- Laurel Woods Elementary School Parking Lot, 9250 North Laurel Road, Laurel
- Ducketts Lane Elementary School Parking Lot, 6501 Ducketts Lane, Elkridge
- Bushy Park Elementary School Parking Lot, 14601 Carrs Mill Road, Glenwood
- Monarch Mills Apartments, 7600 Monarch Mills Way, Columbia
- Forest Ridge Apartments, 5890 Stevens Forest Rd, Columbia
Source: WJLA ABC
Maryland: Montgomery County Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: Their Division of Food and Nutrition Services will provide free meals to children in 20 community locations in a method similar to their Summer Feeding program.
Where to Get Them:
- Arcola Elementary, 1820 Franwall Avenue, Silver Spring
- Captain James Daly Elementary, 20301 Brandermill Dr., Germantown
- Harmony Hall Elementary, 13407 Lydia St., Silver Spring
- Jackson Road Elementary, 900 Jackson Rd., Silver Spring
- JoAnn Leleck at Broad Acres Elementary, 710 Beacon Rd., Silver Spring
- Rolling Terrace Elementary, 705 Bayfield St., Silver Spring
- Roscoe Nix Elementary, 1100 Corliss St., Silver Spring
- Judith Resnik Elementary, 7301 Hadley Farms Dr. Gaithersburg
- Weller Road Elementary, 3301 Weller Rd., Silver Spring
- Argyle Middle, 2400 Bel Pre Rd., Silver Spring
- Forest Oak Middle, 651 Saybrooke Oaks Blvd., Gaithersburg
- Gaithersburg Middle, 2 Teachers Way, Gaithersburg
- Parkland Middle, 4610 W. Frankfort Dr., Rockville
- Earle B. Wood, 14615 Bauer Dr., Rockville
- Montgomery Blair High, 51 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring
- Clarksburg High, 22500 Wims Rd., Clarksburg
- Albert Einstein High, 11135 Newport Miller Rd., Kensington
- Northwest High, 13501 Richter Farm Rd, Germantown
- Paint Branch High, 14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
- Watkins Mill High, 10301 Apple Ridge Rd., Gaithersburg
Source: WJLA ABC
Virginia: Alexandria City Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: They will be providing emergency meals at no cost for any child under 18 and any family who needs it, with details below for each option.
Where to Get Them:
Families can get food two ways –
- Individual Meals to Go: Any child ages 2-18 can pick up a meal to go in a bag by stopping by the Chinquapin Drive side of T.C. Williams High School (door 14) between 8 am – 1 pm. Kids can get meals whether or not they are eligible for free or reduced price meals, You don’t have to fill out any forms to pick up a meal to go.
- Family Meal Packs: You can order a family meal pack online and pick it up at the drive through pick-up point outside Chinquapin Recreation Center (Chinquapin Drive side of T.C. Williams High School, door 14) between 8 am – 1 pm the next day. If transportation is an issue, you can check the box to request meal delivery. The form to request a family meal pack is available HERE.
Source: WJLA ABC
Virginia: Arlington Public Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: They will be providing grab and go breakfasts and lunches (one lunch for that day and one breakfast for the next day) to children ages 2-18. Meals will be set up on a table outside the building for distribution from 11 am – 1 pm. No meals will be given to parents without the child present.
Where to Get Them:
- Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road
- Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, 3500 S. 23rd Street
Source: WJLA ABC
Virginia: Fairfax County Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: They will serve breakfast and lunch at specific locations at no cost to students as well as have adult lunches available for purchase for $2. Breakfast will be available from 8 – 10:30 am and lunch will be available from 10:30 am – 2 pm.
Where to Get Them:
- Bailey’s Elementary School, 6111 Knollwood Drive, Falls Church
- Hutchison Elementary School, 13209 Parcher Avenue, Herndon
- Hybla Valley Elementary School, 3415 Lockheed Boulevard, Alexandria
- London Towne Elementary School, 6100 Stone Road, Centreville
- Burke School, 9645 Burke Lake Road, Burke
Source: WJLA ABC
Virginia: Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Friday, March 27, 2020
Details: They’re supporting families with free breakfast and lunch served daily at all schools while schools are closed. Meal service will run from 8 am – 1 pm at each school. Students are able to get two meals daily (a breakfast and a lunch) and can choose to take both meals simultaneously. Meals will be distributed outside school buildings in a designated area that will vary by school.
Students can receive the meals at the school of their choice, not just at the school they attend. LCPS is also using their school bus fleet to increase the availability of meal service to students that rely on schools for meals to locations such as community centers.
Where to Get Them: There are maps with the school locations and bus stops for meal delivery here and more details are updated as things change on the LCPS website. The school system recommends arriving at the bus stops early to help keep the deliveries on schedule.
Source: WJLA ABC
Virginia: Prince William County Schools
Dates: Weekdays between Monday, March 16, 2020 – Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Details: They provide a packaged breakfast and lunch at the same time for students under the age of 18. To-go meals are served at the front door of each location from 9-10 am.
Where to Get Them: Students can pick up packaged meals at the following schools:
Source: WJLA ABC
If you are in another school district, check your individual school district’s website for details (if you don’t know it, you can search for your school district here). There are also some charitable organizations doing their part to help. So, check with your local charities to see what support and resources are available.
If you know of any others, please comment here and we’ll add them into the list.
Please note that information is accurate as of the publication date. We’ll do our best to update as information changes.
Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash