Multiple US Cities Launch Free Summer Meal Programs for Children

Multiple cities across the U.S. and Canada are launching free summer meal programs to ensure children and teens have access to nutritious food during the school break. Albuquerque's program offers free meals for children ages 1-18 at parks and community centers without requiring ID or membership, starting June 2. Similarly, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin are doubling their meal distribution sites in Moses Lake, serving breakfast and lunch with flexible pickup options for children aged 2-18, beginning June 10. Lima schools will also provide free summer lunches for children ages 1-18 at various elementary schools and mobile stops from June 2 through July 31. In Las Vegas, Chicanos Por la Causa, in partnership with Three Square Food Bank, has launched the "Meet Up and Eat Up" program to distribute free breakfasts and lunches to youths 18 and under through early August. These initiatives aim to combat childhood hunger and support students’ health and readiness for the upcoming school year.