LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — Summer is in full-swing, and for some students who rely on their schools for regular meals, that means they're facing increased food insecurity.
Luckily, there are free summer meal sites for kids throughout the Lehigh Valley funded through the Summer Food Service Program, administered by the U.S. Agriculture Department.
Experts have warned federal budget cuts could make it harder for students to access free meals and food assistance at school and in the summer in the future.
But those who lead the local distribution sites for the Summer Food Service Program said there have been no changes so far and free meals, also called SUN meals, still are available as planned.
To be eligible, sites must be located where 50% or more of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
The meals are open to those 18 and younger, according to the USDA. Meals must be eaten on site.
Registration isn’t required. Some sites also offer educational activities.
There are participating sites in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Whitehall Township. Site information is listed below.
'A lifeline'
Cathy Turner, head cook at Bethlehem’s Nitschmann Middle School, said in a statement that her “thoughts on the program are nothing but positive.”
“Summers can be hard on many families in our district,” Turner said. “And this is one easy way to provide a bit of relief from the worry of having nutritious meals available."
"This is one easy way to provide a bit of relief from the worry of having nutritious meals available."Cathy Turner, head cook at Bethlehem’s Nitschmann Middle School
A statement from Allentown School District called free summer meals “a lifeline, helping to combat food insecurity, support students’ health and academic readiness and provide consistency during the summer break.”
Allentown School District in collaboration with the City of Allentown offers free meals at eight sites.
ASD advertised the option for adults to get a breakfast or lunch for $1/meal if they are eating with their family at the Trexler or South Mountain middle school sites, which provide free meals to any child under age 18.
Additionally, the city offers a Summer Playground Program for ages 7 to 15. The program is offered at 20 sites June 16-Aug. 7. Free lunches are available for children in the program Tuesdays through Fridays.
Allentown
Here are the sites:
Allentown Public Library, 1210 Hamilton St., 12:30-1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday through Aug. 1
Casa Guadalupe, 218 N. Second St., 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday through Aug. 7
Lehigh Valley Hospital, School of Nursing, 1628 W. Chew St., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday through Aug. 15
Mack Pool, 1901 Mack Blvd., noon-3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Aug. 1
South Mountain Middle School, 709 W Emaus Ave., breakfast: 7:30-8 a.m., lunch: 11-11:45 a.m. Monday-Thursday through July 31
St. Luke’s at Star Community Health, 450 W. Chew St., 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday through Aug. 21. Grab & go meals only, while supplies last
The Caring Place, 931 W. Hamilton St., breakfast: 9:30-11:30 a.m., lunch: noon-2 p.m., Monday-Thursday through Aug. 15
Trexler Middle School, 851 N. 15th St., breakfast: 7:30 a.m.-8 a.m., lunch: 11-11:45 a.m., Monday-Thursday through July 31
Bethlehem
Bethlehem Area Public Library, 400 Webster St., noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Thursday through July 24
Boys & Girls Club-Northeast, 1430 Fritz Drive, noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 15
Broughal Middle School, 114 W. Morton St., noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 22
East Hills Middle School, 2005 Chester Ave., noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 22
Foundations Early Learning Academy, 444 Montclair Ave., noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 22
Nitschmann Middle School, 1002 W. Union Blvd., noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 22
Northeast Middle School, 1170 Fernwood St.., noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 22
Saint John’s Church, 718 Pawnee St., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday through Aug. 22
The Center Lehigh Valley, 529 E. Broad St., noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday through Aug. 21
Yosko Playground, 617 Atlantic St., 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 15
Easton
Avona Elementary School, 2317 Front St., 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Thursday through Aug. 6
Boys & Girls Club, 210 Jones Houston Way, breakfast: 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., lunch: noon to 12:45 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 21
Cheston Elementary School, 723 Coal St., breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., lunch: noon to 12:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday through July 30
Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St., noon to 12:30 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 14
Forks Elementary School, 1709 Richmond Road, 11:30 a.m. to noon, Monday-Thursday through July 23
March Elementary School, 429 Reeder St., breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., Monday-Thursday through July 23
Paxinosa Elementary School, 1221 Northampton St., breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday through Aug. 21
River Crossing YMCA, 1225 W. Lafayette St., snack: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., lunch: noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 21
Rover Camp, 1010 Echo Trail, breakfast: 8:50 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday through July 23
Shawnee Elementary School, 1315 Echo Trail, breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., lunch: 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday through July 30
St. Anthony’s Youth Center, 901 Washington St., breakfast: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., lunch: noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through Aug. 7
Tracy Elementary School, 1243 Tatamy Road, breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday through July 30
Wilson Elementary School, 301 S. 21st St., 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Thursday through Aug. 6
Whitehall Township
Whitehall High School, 3800 Mechanicsville Road, breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday through Aug. 14
Zephyr Elementary, 2934 Zephyr Blvd., breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Monday-Thursday through July 24.
